JP2016117245A - Image recording device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording device capable of recording a recording target image in which the cyclic step of a density is suppressed more in a sub-scanning direction with a simple configuration than in a case where an area having no cyclic step of a density in a sub-scanning direction is subjected to correction, and a program.SOLUTION: An image recording device 100 includes a control unit 14 for controlling a recording head 140 to record, on a sheet, an inspection image having an image equivalent to an image satisfying a cyclic step condition preset as a condition for generating a cyclic step of a density in a sub-scanning direction among recording target images recorded by the recording head 140, and controlling the recording head 140 to record a recording target image in which a step is suppressed by using a reading result on the sheet when the reading result obtained by reading the inspection image recorded on the sheet via a license sensor 12 includes step information indicating the step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for correcting a discharge amount of a droplet for each nozzle using a test chart.

  In Patent Document 2, non-ejection nozzles are detected by comparing input image data with output image data obtained by reading an output image and detecting a difference between the input image data and the output image data. An image recording apparatus is disclosed. In the image recording apparatus described in Patent Document 2, unevenness of an image is corrected by ejecting ink from a nozzle different from the detected non-ejection nozzle.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, density unevenness for each nozzle is detected from a reading result by an optical sensor for each of a plurality of density patches, correction data for each nozzle is created based on the detected density unevenness, and based on the correction data. A printing apparatus that adjusts the gradation value of image data is disclosed.

JP 2012-045831 A JP 2006-334835 A JP 2007-098937 A

  In any of the above techniques, a region in which a periodic level difference in density in the sub-scanning direction does not occur is also a correction target.

  An object of the present invention is to perform recording in which a periodic step in density in the sub-scanning direction is suppressed with a simple configuration as compared with a case where an area where a periodic step in density in the sub-scanning direction does not occur is also a correction target. An object is to provide an image recording apparatus and a program capable of recording a target image.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image recording apparatus according to claim 1 includes: a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium that is relatively moving in the sub-scanning direction; and a recording target image that is recorded by the recording unit. The recording means so that an inspection image having an image corresponding to an image that satisfies a predetermined periodic step condition as a condition for generating a periodic step of density in the sub-scanning direction is recorded on a recording medium. If the step information indicating the step is included in the reading result obtained by reading the inspection image recorded on the recording medium by the reading unit, the step is determined using the reading result. Control means for controlling the recording means so that the suppressed recording target image is recorded on a recording medium.

  The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit records the recording target image in which the step is suppressed by using feature information indicating a feature of the step indicated by the step information included in the reading result. The recording means is controlled so as to be recorded on a medium.

  The image recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the feature information is updated to feature information indicating a feature of a step indicated by the step information included in the updated read result every time the read result is updated. Is done.

  5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the feature information is feature information including formulation information in which at least a part of the feature is formulated.

  The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the feature information is feature information including at least one of a period of the step and a size of the step.

  7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when the recording target image is recorded in page units by the recording unit, the inspection image is recorded on a recording medium every predetermined number of pages. When the recording unit is controlled so as to be recorded and the step information is included in the reading result, the recording target image in which the step is suppressed is recorded on a recording medium using the reading result. The recording means is controlled as follows.

  8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein characteristic information indicating characteristics of the steps of each of the inspection images recorded on a recording medium by the recording unit under each of a plurality of operating conditions of the recording unit. Held for each operation condition, the control unit records the recording target image in which the step is suppressed using feature information corresponding to the current operation condition of the recording unit among the feature information in the held state. The recording means is controlled so as to be recorded on a medium.

  9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit changes the recording condition using the reading result so that the step is suppressed when the reading result includes the step information. The recording medium is controlled so that the recording target image is recorded as a test image on the recording medium below, and the step information is not included in the result obtained by reading the test image. The recording means is controlled so that the recording target image is recorded on the recording medium as an officially adopted image under the recording conditions used at the time of image recording.

  The image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is used for recording the test image when the step information is included in a result obtained by reading the test image. The recording means is controlled so that the inspection image is recorded on a recording medium under the recording conditions.

  The image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the inspection image corresponds to a divided image that satisfies the periodic step condition among divided images obtained by dividing the recording target image for each image characteristic. An inspection image including a divided image for inspection, and the control means includes a step of the step indicated by the step information when the step information is included in a result obtained by reading the test image. The recording unit is controlled so that the inspection image having only the inspection divided image corresponding to the divided image at the position corresponding to the position is recorded on a recording medium.

  12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit uses the reading result so that the step is suppressed when the step information is included in the reading result, and the recording target image is used. The image information indicating is corrected, and using the corrected image information, the recording unit is controlled so that the recording target image is recorded on a recording medium, and the condition for recording the inspection image on the recording medium is set. When satisfied, the inspection image having an image corresponding to an image that satisfies the periodic step condition among the recording target images indicated by the image information before correction is corrected using the corrected image information. The recording unit is controlled so as to be recorded on the recording medium.

  13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control unit obtains a result obtained by reading the recording target image recorded on a recording medium by the recording unit using image information indicating the recording target image. The image information is corrected, and the recording unit is controlled so that the recording target image is recorded on a recording medium by using the corrected image information, and the inspection image is recorded on the recording medium. When the condition is satisfied, the inspection image having an image corresponding to an image satisfying the periodic step condition among the recording target images indicated by the image information before correction is corrected with the corrected image information. And controlling the recording means to record on the recording medium.

  14. The image recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the inspection image corresponds to a divided image satisfying the periodic step condition among divided images obtained by dividing the recording target image for each image characteristic. The control image includes the divided image corresponding to the inspection divided image in which the step exists when the reading result includes the step information. The recording unit is controlled such that the recording target image in which the step is suppressed using the reading result is recorded on a recording medium.

  15. The image recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a length in the sub-scanning direction of the divided image for inspection corresponding to the divided image whose length in the sub-scanning direction is less than a predetermined length corresponds to the image recording apparatus. The divided image is longer than the length in the sub-scanning direction.

  The image recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the periodic step condition is that a density is equal to or higher than a predetermined density, a density difference in an area is less than a predetermined density difference, and This is a condition that the length in the sub-scanning direction is not less than a predetermined length.

  17. The image recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the recording unit is a droplet discharge unit having a plurality of droplet discharge elements that record an image by discharging droplets onto a recording medium.

  A program according to a seventeenth aspect is a program for causing a computer to function as control means included in the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects.

  According to the first and seventeenth aspects of the present invention, the density cycle in the sub-scanning direction can be achieved with a simpler configuration compared to a case where a region in which a periodic step in density in the sub-scanning direction does not occur is also a correction target. It is possible to record a recording target image in which a typical step is suppressed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the recording in which the periodic level difference in density in the sub-scanning direction is suppressed with a light load as compared with the case of recording the recording target image in which the level difference is suppressed using the read result itself. The target image can be recorded.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to continuously suppress a periodic level difference in density in the sub-scanning direction as compared with the case where the feature information is not updated even when the reading result is updated.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to specify the feature of the periodic step of density in the sub-scanning direction with a small amount of information compared to the case where the step information itself is included in the feature information.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the periodic characteristic of the step can be specified with a small amount of information compared to the case where the step information itself is included in the feature information.

  According to the invention of claim 6, even when the number of pages is increased, the periodicity of the density in the sub-scanning direction is increased even when the number of pages is increased as compared with the case where the inspection image is not recorded on the recording medium. It is possible to record a recording target image in which the level difference is suppressed.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the operation of the recording means is compared with the case where the recording target image in which the level difference is suppressed is recorded on the recording medium using the fixed feature information regardless of the operation condition of the recording means. Even when the conditions vary, it is possible to record a recording target image in which a periodic level difference in density in the sub-scanning direction is suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 8, the density in the sub-scanning direction is compared with the case where the recording target image recorded under the recording condition different from the recording condition used at the time of recording the test image is the officially adopted image. It is possible to record an officially adopted image in which the periodic step is suppressed with high accuracy.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the level difference is less than that in the case where the recording target image is recorded as the officially adopted image under the fixed recording condition even though the step information is included in the test image. It is possible to prevent the recording target image from being recorded as an officially adopted image.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to shorten the time required for recording the inspection image as compared to the case where the inspection image including the inspection divided image corresponding to the divided image from which the level difference is eliminated is recorded. it can.

  According to the eleventh and twelfth aspects of the present invention, the corrected image is compared with the case where the inspection image is recorded on the recording medium using only the uncorrected image information although the image information is corrected. It is possible to record an inspection image reflecting the image information.

  According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the sub-scanning is performed with a simpler configuration than the case of recording the recording target image in which the step is suppressed using the read result without defining the divided image and the inspection divided image. It is possible to record a recording target image in which a periodic level difference in density in the direction is suppressed.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the length in the sub-scanning direction of the divided image for inspection corresponding to the divided image whose length in the sub-scanning direction is less than a predetermined length is set as the length in the sub-scanning direction of the divided image. Compared to the case, the periodic characteristic of the step can be specified with high accuracy.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the condition that the density is less than the predetermined density, the condition that the density difference in the region is greater than or equal to the predetermined density difference, and the length in the sub-scanning direction. Compared to the case where any of the conditions that the image is less than the predetermined length is a periodic step condition, an inspection image including an image in which a periodic step of density does not occur in the sub-scanning direction is recorded. Recording on a medium can be suppressed.

  According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when the recording unit is a droplet discharge unit, compared with a case where an area where no periodic level difference in density in the sub-scanning direction occurs is a correction target, the configuration is simple. It is possible to record a recording target image in which a periodic level difference in density in the sub-scanning direction is suppressed.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the image recording device which concerns on 1st and 2nd embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view in plan view showing a structural example of a recording head included in the image recording apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments. FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of a part of the recording head shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 6 is a plan view perspective view showing another structural example of the recording head included in the image recording apparatus according to the first and second embodiments. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the ink chamber unit of the recording head contained in the image recording apparatus which concerns on 1st and 2nd embodiment, and is sectional drawing along line 4-4 shown to FIG. 2A and 2B. . It is an enlarged view showing a nozzle arrangement of a recording head included in the image recording apparatus according to the first and second embodiments. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the impression cylinder contained in the image recording apparatus which concerns on 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the solvent drying unit contained in the image recording apparatus which concerns on 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the principal part function of the image recording apparatus which concerns on 1st and 2nd embodiment. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a recording target image indicated by image information used in the image recording apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments, and a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a part of the recording target image recorded on paper. is there. It is a schematic plan view showing an example of a plurality of partial images included in a recording target image recorded on a sheet by a recording head included in the image recording apparatus according to the first and second embodiments. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the electric hardware constitutions of the image recording apparatus which concerns on 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the image recording process which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG. It is a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG. An example of a recording target image indicated by image information used in the image recording apparatus according to the first and second embodiments, an example of a recording target image divided into a plurality of divided images, and an inspection image having divided inspection images It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example. It is a schematic plan view showing an example of an inspection image recorded on a sheet by a recording head included in the image recording apparatus according to the first and second embodiments. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the image recording process which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the image recording apparatus 100 includes a paper feeding unit 102, a permeation suppression processing unit 104, a processing liquid application unit 106, a recording unit 108, a fixing processing unit 110, and a paper discharge unit 112. .

  The paper feed unit 102 is provided with a paper feed stand 120 and a feeder board 122. White paper 114, which is an example of a recording medium according to the present invention, is stacked on the paper feed tray 120. The sheets 114 stacked on the sheet feed stand 120 are sent out one by one from the top by the feeder board 122. The paper 114 sent out by the feeder board 122 reaches the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the pressure drum 126a of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 via the paper feed drum 124a.

  The paper feed cylinder 124 a is provided with a gripper 121 that holds the leading end of the paper 114, and the impression cylinder 126 a is provided with a gripper 125 that holds the leading end of the paper 114. When the leading end of the paper 114 held by the gripper 121 of the paper feed cylinder 124a reaches the contact position (the delivery position of the paper 114) between the paper feed cylinder 124a and the pressure drum 126a, the pressure from the gripper 121 of the paper feed cylinder 124a. The leading end of the paper 114 is transferred to the gripper 125 of the cylinder 126a. Since the transfer drum other than the paper feed drum 124a is not different from the paper feed drum 124a, hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between these, it is referred to as a “transfer drum” without a reference numeral. Further, since the pressure drums other than the pressure drum 126a are not different from the pressure drum 126a, hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between these, the pressure drum is referred to as “pressure drum” without reference.

  The impression cylinder and the transfer cylinder are not different from each other in size and shape, and the sheet feeding cylinder is ½ of the radius of the impression cylinder. Two grippers 125 are provided for each of the impression cylinder and the transfer cylinder, and one gripper 121 is provided for the sheet feeding cylinder. That is, since the cylinder diameter of the transfer cylinder and the cylinder diameter of the impression cylinder are not different, a gripper 123 is provided on the transfer cylinder every half circumference in order to realize the transfer of the paper 114 between the transfer cylinder and the impression cylinder. The impression cylinder is also provided with a gripper 125 every half circumference.

  Further, the permeation suppression processing unit 104 includes a paper preheating unit at a position facing the surface of the pressure drum 126a in order from the upstream side along the rotation (rotation) direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) of the pressure drum 126a. 128, a permeation inhibitor head 130 and a permeation inhibitor drying unit 132 are provided. The paper preheating unit 128 and the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132 are provided with heaters controlled to a predetermined temperature range, and the paper 114 held on the impression cylinder 126a is supplied to the paper preheating unit 128 and the permeation suppression agent drying. When passing through a position facing the units 132, they are heated by the heaters of these units.

  The permeation inhibitor head 130 discharges the permeation inhibitor as droplets, thereby attaching the permeation inhibitor to the paper 114 held by the impression cylinder 126a. The recording heads 140C and 140M of the recording unit 108 to be described later. , 140Y, and 140K are used. The penetration inhibitor is preferably a thermoplastic resin latex solution, but is not limited thereto. For example, tabular grains (mica etc.), water repellent (fluorine coating agent), etc. may be applied. Further, instead of using an ink jet head for attaching the permeation suppression agent to the paper 114, various methods such as a spray method and a coating method may be applied.

  The treatment liquid application unit 106 disposed at the subsequent stage of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 includes a pressure drum 126b. A transfer drum 124b is provided so as to be in contact with each other. As a result, the sheet 114 held on the pressure drum 126a of the permeation suppression processing unit 104 is transferred to the pressure drum 126b of the treatment liquid application unit 106 via the transfer drum 124b after the permeation suppression processing is performed.

  The processing liquid application unit 106 includes a sheet preheating unit 134 and a processing liquid head at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126b in order from the upstream side along the rotation direction of the pressure drum 126b (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1). 136 and a processing liquid drying unit 138 are provided. The paper preheating unit 134, the treatment liquid head 136, and the treatment liquid drying unit 138 of the treatment liquid application unit 106 are the paper preheating unit 128, the penetration inhibitor head 130, and the penetration inhibitor drying unit 132 of the above-described penetration suppression processing unit 104. Since the configurations are not different from each other, the description thereof is omitted. Of course, it goes without saying that a different configuration from the permeation suppression processing unit 104 may be applied.

  As an example of the processing liquid attached to the paper 114 by the processing liquid applying unit 106, the color contained in the ink ejected by each of the recording heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K disposed in the recording unit 108 at the subsequent stage. An acidic liquid having an action of aggregating the material can be mentioned. Although the paper preheating unit 134 may be omitted, the paper 114 is preheated by the heater of the paper preheating unit 134 before the processing liquid is applied onto the paper 114 as in the first embodiment. The heating energy required for drying the treatment liquid can be suppressed.

The heating temperature of the heater of the treatment liquid drying unit 138 is such that the treatment liquid applied to the surface of the paper 114 is dried by the discharge operation of the treatment liquid head 136 disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 126b, The temperature is set to a temperature at which a solid or semi-solid aggregation treatment agent layer (a thin film layer obtained by drying the treatment liquid) is formed. The term “solid or semi-solid aggregation treatment agent layer” as used herein refers to the weight per unit area of water (g / m ² ) contained in the treated liquid after drying, and the unit of the treated liquid after drying. The water content obtained by dividing by the weight per area (g / m ² ) is in the range of 0% to 70%.

  The recording unit 108 disposed at the subsequent stage of the treatment liquid application unit 106 includes a pressure drum 126c, and the pressure drum 126b of the treatment liquid application unit 106 and the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 are in contact with each other. A transfer drum 124c is provided. As a result, the sheet 114 held on the pressure drum 126b of the treatment liquid application unit 106 is applied with the treatment liquid to form a solid or semi-solid solution processing agent layer, and then passes through the transfer cylinder 124c. It is delivered to the impression cylinder 126 c of the recording unit 108.

  The recording unit 108 corresponds to each of the four color inks CMYK at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126c in order from the upstream side along the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) of the pressure drum 126c. Recording heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K (an example of recording means and droplet discharge means according to the present invention) and solvent drying units 142a and 142b are provided, respectively. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the recording heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K, the alphabet at the end is omitted and referred to as “recording head 140”.

  In the first embodiment, an ink jet recording head (ink jet head) is applied as each recording head 140 in the same manner as the permeation suppression agent head 130 and the treatment liquid head 136 described above. That is, each recording head 140 discharges ink droplets of the corresponding color toward the paper 114 held on the impression cylinder 126c.

  A head holder 40 for holding the recording head 140 is disposed above the impression cylinder 126c, and the recording heads 140 have a predetermined angle with each other along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 126c. It is held by the head holder 40. That is, the head holder 40 causes the recording head 140 to face the ink discharge surface α of the recording head 140 to the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 126c, and to record an image on the paper 114 held on the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 126c. Fix at the recording position.

  Each recording head 140 has a length corresponding to the width of the image recording area on the paper 114 held by the pressure drum 126c, and the ink ejection surface α has an ink ejection surface over the entire width of the image recording area. This is a full-line head in which a plurality of nozzles (see reference numeral 161 in FIG. 2) are arranged. Each recording head 140 is fixedly installed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 126c (the conveyance direction of the paper 114). Here, the orthogonal means, for example, an orthogonal including an error (for example, an error of ± 0.001 degree).

  In the first embodiment, as described above, an example is described in which an image is recorded using four colors of CMYK inks. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink colors and combinations thereof may be changed. For example, if necessary, light ink (for example, light ink such as light cyan and light magenta), dark ink, and special color ink may be added. Further, the arrangement order of the heads of the respective colors is not limited to the order shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the configuration in which the full line head having the nozzle row that covers the entire width of the image recording area on the recording surface of the paper 114 is provided for each ink color, the paper 114 and each of the conveyance directions of the paper 114 An image can be recorded in the image recording area of the paper 114 by performing the operation of relatively moving the recording head 140 once. As a result, an image can be recorded at a higher speed than when a serial (shuttle) type head that reciprocates in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 114 is used, and print productivity is improved.

  Further, the solvent drying units 142a and 142b include heaters controlled to a predetermined temperature range, such as the paper preheating units 128 and 134, the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132, and the treatment liquid drying unit 138 described above. Is done. As will be described later, when ink droplets adhere to the solid or semi-solid aggregation processing agent layer formed on the paper 114, an ink aggregate (color material aggregate) is formed on the paper 114. The ink solvent separated from the color material spreads to form a liquid layer in which the aggregating agent is dissolved. The solvent component (liquid component) remaining on the sheet 114 in this way becomes a factor that causes not only the warp of the sheet 114 but also image degradation. Therefore, in the first embodiment, after the ink droplets of the respective colors are attached to the paper 114 from the respective recording heads 140, the solvent drying units 142a and 142b (hereinafter referred to as “solvent drying unit if there is no need to distinguish between them). 142 ”) is applied with a heater to evaporate the solvent component.

  Further, the fixing processing unit 110 disposed at the rear stage of the recording unit 108 includes an impression cylinder 126d, and the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 and the impression cylinder 126d of the fixing processing unit 110 are in contact with each other. Is provided with a transfer drum 124d. As a result, the paper 114 held on the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 is delivered to the pressure drum 126c of the recording unit 108 via the transfer drum 124d after ink droplets of each color are attached by the recording unit 108. . In the fixing processing unit 110, heating rollers 148a and 148b are respectively provided at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126d in order from the upstream side along the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) of the pressure drum 126d. Yes.

  In the fixing processing unit 110 of the first embodiment, after the image recording, the fixing process is performed by heating and pressing with the heating rollers 148a and 148b, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, another configuration may be applied in which UV light is applied after the transparent UV ink is adhered to fix the image on the paper 114 by curing the transparent UV ink.

  Further, the fixing processing unit 110 includes a line sensor 12 which is an example of a reading unit according to the present invention. The line sensor 12 is a sensor in which a plurality of reading elements (for example, CMOS image sensors) each converting light brightness and darkness into electric signals are arranged in a line in the main scanning direction, and the length in the main scanning direction is This corresponds to the width of the paper 114 held on the impression cylinder 126d.

  The paper discharge unit 112 disposed at the subsequent stage of the fixing processing unit 110 is provided with a paper discharge drum 150, a paper discharge table 152, and a paper discharge chain 154. The paper discharge cylinder 150 receives the paper 114 on which the fixing process has been performed. The paper discharge table 152 stacks the paper 114 received by the paper discharge drum 150. The paper discharge chain 154 is spanned between a sprocket provided on the paper discharge drum 150 and a sprocket provided above the paper discharge table 152, and includes a plurality of paper discharge grippers.

  Next, the recording head 140 will be described with reference to FIG. 2A and 2B are schematic perspective views in plan view on the ink ejection surface α side of the recording head 140. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the recording head 140 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of inks including nozzles 161 serving as ink droplet ejection ports, pressure chambers 162 corresponding to the nozzles 161, and the like. The chamber unit 163 (an example of the droplet discharge element according to the present invention) is arranged in a matrix (two-dimensionally), and thereby, in the longitudinal direction of the head (a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 114). Accordingly, the density of the substantial nozzle interval (projection nozzle pitch) is increased, and the density of the dot pitch formed on the paper 114 is increased. The recording head 140 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2A. For example, as shown in FIG. 2C, short head blocks 160 in which a plurality of nozzles 161 are two-dimensionally arranged are arranged in a staggered manner. A configuration in which the heads are joined together may be used, or although not shown, a configuration in which short heads are arranged in a line may be used.

  The pressure chamber 162 has a quadrangular planar shape, and nozzles 161 and supply ports 164 are provided at both corners on a diagonal line. As an example, as shown in FIG. 3, each pressure chamber 162 is connected to a common flow path 165 via a supply port 164. The common channel 165 is connected to an ink supply tank (not shown) as an ink supply source, and the ink supplied from the ink supply tank is distributed and supplied to each pressure chamber 162 via the common channel 165. A piezoelectric element 168 having an individual electrode 167 is joined to a diaphragm 166 that constitutes the top surface of the pressure chamber 162 and also has a function as a common electrode, and the piezoelectric element 168 has a drive voltage applied to the individual electrode 167. Is deformed, and an ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle 161 as the piezoelectric element 168 is deformed. As the ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 161, new ink is supplied from the common channel 165 through the supply port 164 to the pressure chamber 162.

  In the first embodiment, the piezoelectric element 168 is used as ejection force generating means for ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 161. Instead, a heater is provided in the pressure chamber 162, and film boiling due to heating of the heater is achieved. A thermal method in which ink is ejected using the pressure may be applied. As an example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the recording head 140 according to the first embodiment, the ink chamber unit 163 having the above-described configuration has a row direction along a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the paper 114 and the conveyance of the paper 114. A large number of arrays are arranged in a matrix with a constant array pattern along the inclined row direction that forms a constant angle θ that is not orthogonal to the direction orthogonal to the direction, thereby realizing a high density of the projection nozzle pitch. ing. That is, a plurality of ink chamber units 163 are arranged at a constant pitch d along a direction that forms a constant angle θ with respect to a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 114, thereby causing a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 114. The projection nozzle pitch P along the line is d × cos θ, and the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 114 is equivalently treated as one in which the nozzles 161 are linearly arranged at a constant pitch P. As a result, a recording head equal to 2400 nozzles per inch (2400 nozzles / inch) arranged at high density along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the paper 114 can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, a full line head having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the entire width in which an image can be recorded is used to eject ink droplets from the nozzles in the width direction of the paper 114 (the paper 114). As a nozzle driving method for recording one line (a line composed of one row of dots or a line consisting of a plurality of rows of dots) along the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, (1) all nozzles are driven simultaneously ( 2) The nozzle is sequentially driven from one side to the other, (3) the nozzle is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block is sequentially driven from one side to the other. In the present specification, the driving of the nozzles for recording one line along the width direction of the paper 114 by any one of the above driving methods is defined as main scanning.

  As an example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when driving the nozzles 161 arranged in a matrix, the main scanning (nozzle driving method) of (3) is preferable. Specifically, the nozzles 161-11, 161-12, 161-13, 161-14, 161-15, 161-16 shown in FIG. 4 are arranged in one block (other nozzles 161-21,..., 161- 26 is one block and nozzles 161-31,..., 161-36 are one block), and the nozzles 161-11, 161-12,. Thus, one line is recorded in the width direction of the sheet 114.

  On the other hand, in this specification, by moving the above-described full line head and the paper 114 relative to each other, one line (a line formed by one line of dots or a line composed of a plurality of lines) formed by the above-described main scanning is used. Repeated recording is defined as sub-scanning. The direction indicated by one line recorded by the main scanning is referred to as a main scanning direction, and the direction in which the sub scanning is performed is referred to as a sub scanning direction. That is, the conveyance direction of the sheet 114 is the sub-scanning direction, and the width direction of the sheet 114 orthogonal to the conveyance direction is the main scanning direction.

  The arrangement structure of the nozzles 161 is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, various nozzle arrangement structures such as an arrangement structure having one nozzle row in the sub-scanning direction can be applied. Further, a serial method may be applied instead of the recording method using the line type head. In the serial method, first, recording in the width direction is performed by scanning a short head that is less than the width of the paper 114 in the width direction of the paper 114. Next, when recording in one width direction is completed, the sheet 114 is moved by a predetermined amount in a direction orthogonal to the width direction, and recording in the width direction of the sheet 114 in the next recording area is performed. This operation is repeated to perform recording over the entire recording area of the paper 114.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the impression cylinder 126 c included in the recording unit 108. As shown in FIG. 5, the impression cylinder 126c is formed in a cylindrical shape. Holding regions X and Y are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 126c. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 126c is obtained by being divided at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction (here, as an example, a semicircular unit), and the transfer cylinder 124c, the impression cylinder 126b, the transfer cylinder 124b, the impression cylinder 126a, and Holding regions X and Y for holding a single sheet 114 supplied by the sheet feeding unit 102 via the sheet feeding cylinder 124a (hereinafter referred to as “holding without reference if there is no need to distinguish between them). Area ”). Each of the holding areas X and Y is provided with a gripper 125. The gripper 125 in each holding area receives the paper 114 sent from the transfer cylinder 124c and holds it in the corresponding holding area. The sheet 114 held in the holding area in this way is conveyed by the impression cylinder 126c rotating in the circumferential direction (for example, the direction of the arc of the arrow shown in FIG. 5).

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the solvent drying unit 142 included in the recording unit 108. As shown in FIG. 6, the solvent drying unit 142 generates heat so as to apply heat to a predetermined passing region (hereinafter simply referred to as “passing region”) through which the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 126c passes. A plurality of IR heaters 143a and a plurality of hot air heaters 143b (hereinafter referred to as “heaters 143” when there is no need to distinguish between the heaters used in the image recording apparatus 100) are provided. Further, the solvent drying unit 142 is provided with a temperature sensor 145 that measures the temperature of the passage region. Each of the paper preheating unit 128, the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132, the paper preheating unit 134, and the treatment liquid drying unit 138 is basically configured differently from the solvent drying unit 142. Further, the position where the temperature sensor 145 is disposed is not limited to the illustrated position, and may be a position where the temperature of a region predetermined as a region through which the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 126c passes can be measured.

  As an example, as shown in FIG. 7, the image recording apparatus 100 includes a controller 10. The controller 10 controls the entire image recording apparatus 100.

  By the way, the image recording apparatus 100 receives, for example, image information indicating a recording target image that is an image to be recorded on the paper 114 from the outside, and the recording head 140 places the recording target image on the paper 114 according to the image information. Record.

  However, when the recording target image indicated by the image information includes a monotone image, when the recording target image is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140, the monotonous image recorded on the paper 114 is visually recognized. Steps may appear at certain levels. Here, the step refers to a periodic step in density in the sub-scanning direction. In the following, for convenience of explanation, a periodic step of density in the sub-scanning direction is simply referred to as “step”. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, image information indicating a recording target image is simply referred to as “image information”.

  As an example of a recording target image including a monotonous image, a recording target image 20 is given as shown in FIG. The recording target image 20 includes a monotone image 22, and the monotonic image 22 is a single closed monochrome image that occupies about 40% of the recording target image 20. Further, the monotone image 22 included in the recording target image 20 indicated by the image information is an image that is long in the sub-scanning direction without uneven density. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a step appears at a visually recognizable level in the monotonic image 22 recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140.

  The presence or absence of a step in the image recorded on the sheet 114 and the period of the step in the sub-scanning direction vary depending on various factors such as the conveyance speed of the sheet 114 and the state of the recording head 140.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, in the recording target image 24, the presence or absence of a step and the feature of the step differ depending on various factors. The recording head 140 shown in FIG. 9 is a recording head having head blocks 160A, 160B, 160C, and 160D. The recording target image 24 is an image recorded on the paper 114 by the head blocks 160A, 160B, 160C, and 160D included in the recording head 140. The recording target image 24 includes partial images 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24D, 24E, 24F, 24G, 24H, 24I, 24J, 24K, 24L, and 24M that do not overlap each other. The partial images 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24D, 24E, 24F, 24G, 24H, 24I, 24J, 24K, 24L, and 24M are all monochromatic with no step in the recording target image 24 indicated by the image information. It is a rectangular monotonous image.

  The partial image 24A is an image recorded by the adjacent head blocks 160A and 160B. The partial image 24B is also an image recorded by the adjacent head blocks 160A and 160B. In the recording target image 20 indicated by the image information, the partial images 24A and 24B have the same position in the main scanning direction, the length in the main scanning direction, and the length in the sub scanning direction. Is lower than the density of the partial image 24A.

  When the partial images 24A and 24B are recorded on the paper 114 by the head block 160A, a step appears in the area recorded by the head block 160A in the partial image 24A, but a step appears in the area recorded by the head block 160B. Absent. On the other hand, in the partial image 24B, no step appears in the area recorded by the head block 160A and the area recorded by the head block 160B.

  The partial images 24C, 24D, and 24E are images recorded by the head block 160A. The partial images 24C and 24D are images recorded by different portions of the head block 160A. The partial image 24E is an image recorded by the portion used for recording the partial image 24C in the head block 160A and the portion used for recording the partial image 24D in the head block 160A. In the recording target image 24 indicated by the image information, the partial images 24C, 24D, and 24E are not different from each other in the length in the main scanning direction, the length in the sub scanning direction, and the density. Is off.

  When the partial images 24C, 24D, and 24E are recorded on the paper 114 by the head block 160A, a step appears in the partial image 24C among the partial images 24C, 24D, and 24E.

  The partial images 24F and 24G are images recorded by the head block 160B. The partial image 24F is an image recorded by one end portion of the head block 160B, and the partial image 24G is an image recorded by a portion including one end portion used for recording the partial image 24F in the head block 160B. In the recording target image 24 indicated by the image information, the partial images 24F and 24G are not different from each other in the position in the main scanning direction, the length in the sub-scanning direction, and the density, but in the main scanning direction of the partial image 24F. The length is shorter than the length of the partial image 24G in the main scanning direction.

  When the partial images 24F and 24G are recorded on the paper 114 by the head block 160B, a step appears in the partial image 24F, but no step appears in the partial image 24A.

  The partial images 24H and 24I are images recorded by the central portion of the head block 160C. In the recording target image 24 indicated by the image information, the partial image 24H and the partial image 24I have the same position in the main scanning direction, the length in the main scanning direction, and the density, but the sub-scanning of the partial image 24I. The length in the direction is shorter than the length in the sub-scanning direction of the partial image 24H.

  When the partial images 24H and 24I are recorded on the paper 114 by the central portion of the head block 160C, a step appears in the partial image 24H, but no step appears in the partial image 24I.

  The partial image 24L is an image recorded on the paper 114 by the head blocks 160C and 160D. No step appears in the partial image 24L.

  The partial images 24J, 24K, and 24M are images recorded on the paper 114 by the head block 160D. In the recording target image 24 indicated by the image information, the partial images 24J, 24K, and 24M have no change in the length in the main scanning direction, the length in the sub scanning direction, and the density. Although the positions of the partial images 24K and 24M in the main scanning direction are not different from each other, the positions of the partial images 24J in the main scanning direction are shifted from the positions of the partial images 24K and 24M in the main scanning direction. That is, the portion used for recording the partial image 24J in the head block 160D is different from the portion used for recording the partial images 24K and 24M in the head block 160D.

  When the partial images 24J, 24K, and 24M are recorded on the paper 114 by the head block 160D, a step appears in the partial images 24K and 24M, but no step appears in the partial image 24J.

  Therefore, in order to suppress the step, the controller 10 includes a control unit 14 as shown in FIG. 7 as an example. The control unit 14 controls the recording head 140 so that an inspection image having an image corresponding to a condition-full image among the recording target images recorded by the recording head 140 is recorded on the paper 114. Here, the condition-full image refers to an image that satisfies a periodic step difference that is predetermined as a condition for generating a step in the recording target image.

  The control unit 14 also includes a recording target image in which the step is suppressed using the reading result when the reading result obtained by reading the inspection image by the line sensor 12 includes step information indicating the step. The recording head 140 is controlled so as to be recorded on the paper 114.

  As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the controller 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40, a primary storage unit 42, and a secondary storage unit 44. The primary storage unit 42 is a volatile memory (for example, RAM (Random Access Memory)) used as a work area or the like when executing various programs. The secondary storage unit 44 is a non-volatile memory (for example, a flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)) that stores in advance a control program for controlling the operation of the image recording apparatus 100, various parameters, and the like. The CPU 40, the primary storage unit 42, and the secondary storage unit 44 are connected to each other via a bus 46.

  The image recording apparatus 100 is an input / output interface (I / O) that electrically connects the controller 10 and various input / output devices to control transmission / reception of various information between the controller 10 and various input / output devices. 48). Various input / output devices are electrically connected to the controller 10 via the bus 46 by being connected to the I / O 48. In the first embodiment, as various input / output devices, a line sensor 12, a receiving device 50, a display device 52, an external interface (I / F) 54, a heater driver 56, a head driver 58, a motor driver 60, and a communication I. / F62 is applied.

  The accepting device 50 is, for example, a hard key and a touch panel, and accepts various information given by the user. Since the receiving device 50 is connected to the bus 46 via the I / O 48, various information received by the receiving device 50 is acquired by the CPU 40. The display device 52 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and the touch panel of the receiving device 50 is superimposed on the display surface of the liquid crystal display. Since the display device 52 is connected to the bus 46 via the I / O 48, various information is displayed under the control of the CPU 40.

  The external I / F 54 is connected to an external device such as a USB memory or an external hard disk device, and controls transmission / reception of various types of information between the external device and the CPU 40.

  A heater 143 is connected to the heater driver 56. Since the heater driver 56 is connected to the bus 46 via the I / O 48, the heater 143 is driven according to an instruction from the CPU 40.

  A recording head 140 is connected to the head driver 58. The head driver 58 is supplied with data for image recording, timing signals that define the timing for ejecting ink droplets, and the like. The head driver 58 controls the droplet discharge operation by the recording head 140 based on the supplied image recording data and timing signals. Since the head driver 58 is connected to the bus 46 via the I / O 48, the head driver 58 controls the recording head 140 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 40.

  The permeation suppressor head 130 and the treatment liquid head 136 are also individually provided with drivers (not shown), and these drivers are also connected to the I / O 48. Accordingly, the permeation inhibitor head 130 and the treatment liquid head 136 are controlled by the corresponding driver to control the discharge operation of the permeation liquid and the treatment liquid under the control of the CPU 40.

  A motor 64 is connected to the motor driver 60. The motor 64 is a motor that supplies a driving force to a conveying system such as an impression cylinder and a transfer cylinder. Since the motor driver 60 is connected to the bus 46 via the I / O 48, the motor driver 60 controls the operation of the motor 64 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 40.

  The communication I / F 62 is connected to a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, for example, and stores various information with an external device 66 (for example, a personal computer) connected to the communication network. Controls transmission and reception.

  In the first embodiment, the communication I / F 62 receives image recording request information from the external device 66. The image recording request information includes image information (an example of a recording condition according to the present invention) and instruction information indicating various instructions used for image recording. The image recording request information is transmitted from the external device 66 to the image recording device 100 for each job. A job refers to a unit of processing executed in response to one execution instruction, for example. The execution instruction refers to an instruction for requesting recording of the recording target image on the paper 114.

  The CPU 40 acquires image recording request information via the communication I / F 62 and stores the acquired image recording request information in the primary storage unit 42. Then, the image recording request information is acquired from the primary storage unit 42 at a predetermined timing, and based on the acquired image recording request information, the paper feeding unit 102, the permeation suppression processing unit 104, the processing liquid application unit 106, and the recording unit 108 are acquired. The fixing processing unit 110 and the paper discharge unit 112 are controlled.

  The secondary storage unit 44 stores an image recording program 68. The CPU 40 operates as the control unit 14 shown in FIG. 7 by reading the image recording program 68 from the secondary storage unit 44, developing it in the primary storage unit 42, and executing the image recording program 68.

  Although the case where the image recording program 68 is read from the secondary storage unit 44 is illustrated here, it is not necessarily stored in the secondary storage unit 44 from the beginning. For example, an image recording program 68 is first loaded on an arbitrary portable storage medium such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), a DVD disk, an IC card, a magneto-optical disk, or a CD-ROM that is connected to the image recording apparatus 100. It may be memorized. Then, the CPU 40 may acquire and execute the image recording program 68 from a portable storage medium. Further, the image recording program 68 is stored in a storage unit such as another computer or server device connected to the image recording device 100 via a communication network (not shown), and the CPU 40 is connected to the other computer or server device or the like. The image recording program 68 may be acquired and executed.

  Next, as an operation of the first embodiment, an image recording process performed by the image recording apparatus 100 by executing the image recording program 68 every time the CPU 40 acquires the image recording request information will be described with reference to FIGS. A description will be given with reference to FIG.

  In the following description, for the sake of convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the recording target image indicated by the image information included in the image recording request information is one type of image. Here, one type of image means an image whose contents are not different from each other in the plurality of images on the image information. In the following, for convenience of explanation, a case where a plurality of recording target images are recorded on the paper 114 for one job will be described. In the following description, the image information means image information included in the image recording request information acquired by the CPU 40. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the description will be made on the assumption that the paper 114 and the recording head 140 are relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction by transporting the paper 114 in the sub-scanning direction.

  In the image recording process shown in FIG. 11, first, at step 200, the control unit 14 determines whether or not a condition-full image exists in the recording target image indicated by the image information.

  In step 200, the control unit 14 divides the recording target image for each image characteristic, and determines whether the divided image obtained by dividing is a divided image that satisfies the periodic step condition or not. Determine whether or not. That is, the condition-full image refers to, for example, a divided image that satisfies the periodic step condition. When the entire recording target image satisfies the periodic step condition, it is not necessary to divide the recording target image, and the recording target image itself is handled as a fully-qualified image.

  As an example, as shown in FIG. 14, a recording target image 70 indicated by image information is divided into divided images A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, F1, and G1. The divided images A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, F1, and G1 are all rectangular images. In the following, for convenience of explanation, when it is not necessary to distinguish and explain the divided images A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, F1, and G1, they are referred to as “divided images” without reference numerals. In the following, for the convenience of explanation, the margin area at the peripheral edge of the recording target image 70 is ignored.

  The divided image is determined for each image characteristic. The image characteristics refer to image characteristics that define boundaries between divided images, such as the position, size, color, density, and presence / absence of a step in the recording target image 70, for example. The density means, for example, a gradation value that defines the density of dots.

  In the recording target image 70 indicated by the image information, the divided images have different areas and lengths in the main scanning direction. Of the divided images, only the divided image G1 is an image having a step. The densities of the divided images A1, B1, C1, and D1 are not different from each other. The divided image G1 is a white image having a gradation value of “255”. Regarding the relationship between the densities of the divided images, the relationship of divided image G1> divided image E1> divided images A1, B1, C1, D1> divided image F1 is established. Regarding the length relationship between the divided images in the sub-scanning direction, the relationship of divided image B1, C1> divided image G1> divided image E1, F1> divided image A1> divided image D1 is established.

  The periodic step condition is a condition specified using image information. The periodic step condition is a combination of the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition. That is, satisfying the periodic step condition means satisfying all of the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition. Here, the first condition refers to a condition that the concentration is equal to or higher than a predetermined concentration. The second condition refers to a condition that there is no density difference in the region. The third condition refers to a condition that the length in the sub-scanning direction is not less than a predetermined length.

  Here, the density in the region indicates, for example, an average density in the divided image. The predetermined density refers to a lower limit density obtained in advance by a sensory test or simulation as a density at which a step is visually recognized in the recording target image 70 recorded on the paper 114. Further, the density difference in the region indicates, for example, a step in the sub-scanning direction in the divided image. The predetermined length refers to a lower limit length obtained in advance by a sensory test or simulation as a length at which a step is visually recognized in the recording target image 70 recorded on the paper 114. .

  In the first embodiment, the second condition is that there is no density difference in the area. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the density difference in the area is predetermined. It may be less than the density difference. The predetermined density difference is, for example, a lower limit density difference obtained in advance by a sensory test or simulation as a density difference at which a step is visually recognized in the recording target image 70 recorded on the paper 114. Point to.

  Of the divided images shown in FIG. 14, the divided images satisfying the periodic step difference are divided images A1, B1, and C1.

  The divided image D1 has the same density as the divided images A1, B1, and C1 on the image information, but the length in the sub-scanning direction is visually different in the recording target image 70 recorded on the paper 114. Therefore, the periodic step condition is not satisfied.

  Further, the divided images G1 and E1 do not satisfy the periodic step condition because the step is not a density at which the step is visually recognized in the recording target image 70 recorded on the paper 114 on the image information.

  Furthermore, the divided image F1 does not satisfy the periodic step condition because there is a step in the sub-scanning direction in the divided image F1 on the image information.

  In step 200, when a condition-full image does not exist in the recording target image indicated by the image information, the determination is negative and the process proceeds to step 226. In step 200, if a condition-fulfilled image exists in the recording target image indicated by the image information, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 202.

  In step 202, the control unit 14 controls the recording head 140 so that the inspection image is recorded on the paper 114. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 15 as an example, the inspection image 72 is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140.

  As an example, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the inspection image 72 includes an inspection divided image A2 having an image corresponding to the divided image A1, an inspection divided image B2 having an image corresponding to the divided image B1, and a divided image. It is an image including the inspection divided image C2 having an image corresponding to the image C1. In the following, for the convenience of explanation, the margin area in the peripheral portion of the inspection image 72 is ignored.

  The inspection divided image B2 is an image indicated by the divided image information indicating the divided image B1 included in the image information. The inspection divided image C2 is an image indicated by the divided image information indicating the divided image C1 included in the image information.

  The inspection divided image A2 is an image obtained by lengthening the image indicated by the divided image information indicating the divided image A1 included in the image information in the sub-scanning direction. The length of the inspection divided image A2 in the sub-scanning direction is, for example, the length obtained by multiplying the length of the divided image A1 in the sub-scanning direction by a coefficient. Here, the coefficient refers to, for example, a coefficient for multiplication that is inevitably determined in order to obtain a length obtained in advance by a sensory test or simulation as the length in the sub-scanning direction in which the step period is specified. .

  In the next step 204, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the inspection image has reached the reading start position by the line sensor 12. In step 204, if the inspection image has not reached the reading start position by the line sensor 12, the determination is negative and the determination in step 204 is performed again. In step 204, if the inspection image reaches the reading start position by the line sensor 12, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 206.

  In step 206, the control unit 14 controls the line sensor 12 so that reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is started. Thereby, reading of the inspection image is started by the line sensor 12.

  In the next step 208, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 has been completed. If the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is not completed in step 208, the determination is negative and the determination in step 208 is performed again. In step 208, when the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is completed, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 210.

  In step 210, the control unit 14 determines whether or not a step exists in the inspection image by determining whether or not step information is included in the reading result of the line sensor 12 with respect to the inspection image. That is, the control unit 14 determines whether or not there is a step in at least one of the divided inspection images A2, B2, and C2.

  If there is no step in the inspection image at step 210, the determination is negative and the routine proceeds to step 226. If there is a step in the inspection image at step 210, the determination is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 212.

  In step 212, the control unit 14 generates feature information indicating the feature of the step indicated by the step information included in the reading result of the line sensor 12 with respect to the inspection image and stores (overwrites) the feature information in the secondary storage unit 44. .

  In this step 212, the feature information refers to information including, for example, step amplitude (step size) and step period. The specific information has formulation information in which the amplitude of the step and the period of the step are formulated by a trigonometric function. The feature information also includes position feature information for specifying the start position and end position in the sub-scanning direction of the step in the inspection image, and a nozzle number for specifying the nozzle 161 included in the divided image in which the step exists. Contains.

  The position specifying information refers to, for example, coordinates that specify the start position of the step in the inspection image in the sub-scanning direction and coordinates that specify the end position of the step in the inspection image in the sub-scanning direction. For example, in the divided image A1 shown in FIG. 14, the coordinate specifying the start position is y1, and the coordinate specifying the end position is y2. In the divided image B1 shown in FIG. 14, the coordinate specifying the start position is y2, and the coordinate specifying the end position is y3. Further, in the divided image C1 shown in FIG. 14, the coordinate specifying the start position is y2, and the coordinate specifying the end position is y3.

  For example, in the divided image A1 shown in FIG. 14, the nozzle 161 included in the divided image in which a level difference exists is within the range defined by the coordinates y1 and y2 in the sub-scanning direction and the coordinates x1 and x4 in the main scanning direction. The nozzle 161 of this is pointed out. Further, in the divided image A2 shown in FIG. 14, the nozzle 161 is within the range defined by the sub-scanning direction coordinates y2, y3 and the main scanning direction coordinates x1, x2. Furthermore, the divided image C1 shown in FIG. 14 indicates the nozzle 161 within the range defined by the coordinates y2 and y3 in the sub-scanning direction and the coordinates x3 and x4 in the main scanning direction.

  In the next step 214, the control unit 14 uses the feature information stored in the secondary storage unit 44 so as to suppress the level difference in the image to be recorded when it is recorded on the paper 114. Correct.

  Thus, for example, the gradation value in the sub-scanning direction before correction is 10⇒10⇒10⇒10⇒10 ..., and the actually measured gradation value is 15⇒5⇒15⇒5⇒15. In this case, the gradation value in the sub-scanning direction after correction is 5⇒15⇒5⇒15⇒5⇒15. Note that the gradation value in the sub-scanning direction before correction refers to, for example, the gradation value in the sub-scanning direction of the divided image A1 indicated by the image information before correction. The actually measured gradation value refers to the gradation value in the sub-scanning direction of the step specified by the reading result by the line sensor 12 for the inspection divided image A2. Further, the corrected gradation value in the sub-scanning direction refers to the gradation value in the sub-scanning direction of the divided image A1 indicated by the corrected image information.

  In the first embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the image information corrected in step 214 is referred to as post-correction image information, and the image information before correction, that is, the image information used in the processing of step 200 is referred to. This is referred to as pre-correction image information. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the pre-correction image information and the post-correction image information, the image information is referred to as image information.

  In the next step 216, the control unit 14 controls the recording head 140 using the corrected image information so that the recording target image is recorded on the paper 114 as a test image. As a result, the test image is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140.

  Note that the trial image refers to a recording target image that is recorded on the paper 114 on a trial basis before the officially adopted image, which is a recording target image that is officially adopted, is recorded on the paper 114. Therefore, in order for the user to visually distinguish between the trial image and the officially adopted image, a stamp indicating that it is a trial image may be recorded over the trial image, or the trial image and the formal image may be recorded. The adopted image may be discharged after being distinguished by a different discharge destination.

  In the next step 218, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the test image has reached the reading start position by the line sensor 12. If the test image has not reached the reading start position by the line sensor 12 in step 218, the determination is negative and the determination in step 218 is performed again. In step 218, when the test image reaches the reading start position by the line sensor 12, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 220.

  In step 220, the control unit 14 controls the line sensor 12 so that reading of the test image by the line sensor 12 is started. Thereby, reading of the test image is started by the line sensor 12.

  In the next step 222, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the reading of the test image by the line sensor 12 is finished. If the reading of the test image by the line sensor 12 is not completed at step 222, the determination is negative and the determination at step 212 is performed again. If the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is completed in step 222, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 224.

  In step 224, the control unit 14 determines whether or not a step is present in the test image by determining whether or not the step information is included in the reading result of the line sensor 12 with respect to the test image. In step 224, the control unit 14 calculates the difference between the reading result of the line sensor 12 with respect to the test image and the recording target image indicated by the pre-correction image information, and includes the step information in the reading result from the calculated difference. It is determined whether it is not.

  If there is a step in the test image in step 224, the determination is negative and the process proceeds to step 202. If there is no step in the test image in step 224, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 226. When the process proceeds from step 224 to step 202, the inspection image recorded on the sheet 114 in step 202 is the inspection division corresponding to the divided image that satisfies the periodic step condition among the divided images indicated by the pre-correction image information. It is an image for inspection which has an image. The recording head 140 records the inspection image on the paper 114 using the corrected image information. That is, the divided image is specified using the pre-correction image information, and the inspection divided image corresponding to the specified divided image is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140 using the corrected image information.

  As a result, in the inspection image recorded on the sheet 114, the inspection divided image B2 is an image corresponding to the divided image B1 indicated by the corrected image information. The inspection divided image C2 is an image corresponding to the divided image C1 indicated by the corrected image information. The inspection divided image A2 is an image corresponding to an image obtained by lengthening the divided image A1 indicated by the corrected image information in the sub-scanning direction.

  Note that if there is no step in one or two of the divided images A1, B1, and C1 from the reading result of the test image, the divided inspection image corresponding to the divided image in which the step exists. May be recorded on the sheet 114. For example, when the reading result of the test image by the line sensor 12 does not include step information regarding the divided image A1, an inspection image having only the inspection divided images B2 and C2 corresponding to the divided images B1 and C1 is provided on the sheet 114. To be recorded.

  In step 226, the control unit 14 controls the recording head 140 using the image information so that the recording target image is recorded on the paper 114 as the officially adopted image. Thereby, the recording target image is recorded on the paper 114 as the officially adopted image by the recording head 140.

  Here, in this step 226, when the image information is corrected in step 214, the image to be recorded is recorded on the paper 114 as the officially adopted image using the corrected image information. In step 226, if the image information has not been corrected even once in step 214, the image to be recorded is recorded on the paper 114 using the pre-correction image information.

  The correction of the image information is an example of changing the recording condition according to the present invention. Further, the fact that the recording target image is recorded on the paper 114 as the officially adopted image using the corrected image information means that the recording target image is officially adopted on the paper 114 under the recording conditions used in recording the test image. Is recorded as an example.

  In the next step 228, the control unit 14 determines whether or not one officially adopted image has been recorded on the paper 114. In step 228, when one officially adopted image is not recorded on the sheet 114, the determination is negative and the determination in step 228 is performed again. In step 228, when one officially adopted image is recorded on the sheet 114, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 230.

  In step 230, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the recording of the officially adopted image on the paper 114 for one job is completed. In step 230, when the recording of the officially adopted image for one job on the paper 114 is completed, the determination is negative and the process proceeds to step 232.

  In step 232, the control unit 14 adds 1 to the count value of a counter (not shown), and then proceeds to step 234.

  In step 234, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the count value has reached a threshold value (for example, 1000). Here, the threshold value refers to, for example, the number of pages predetermined as the number of pages (number of pages) on which the officially adopted images are recorded. The predetermined number of pages refers to the number of pages obtained in advance by a sensory test or simulation as the number of pages in which a step appears in the officially adopted image.

  If the count value does not reach the threshold value in step 234, it is determined that the condition for recording the inspection image on the sheet 114 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step 226. If the count value reaches the threshold value in step 234, it is determined that the condition for recording the inspection image on the sheet 114 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step 236.

  Note that the threshold used in this step 234 may be a variable value that is changed by an instruction received by the receiving device 50 or an instruction given from the external device 66. Further, the threshold used in this step 234 may be a threshold specified by the instruction information included in the image recording request information. Further, the threshold used in this step 234 may be a threshold determined by the operating time of the image recording apparatus 100.

  In step 236, the control unit 14 controls the recording head 140 to stop recording the recording target image on the paper 114. Thereby, the recording of the recording target image on the paper 114 is stopped.

  In the next step 238, the control unit 14 controls the recording head 140 so that the inspection image is recorded on the paper 114. Thus, the inspection image is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140. Here, the inspection image recorded on the sheet 114 is an inspection image having a divided inspection image corresponding to a divided image that satisfies the periodic step condition among the divided images indicated by the pre-correction image information. The recording head 140 records the inspection image on the paper 114 using the corrected image information. That is, the divided image is specified using the pre-correction image information, and the inspection divided image corresponding to the specified divided image is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140 using the corrected image information.

  In the next step 240, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the inspection image has reached the reading start position by the line sensor 12. In step 240, when the inspection image has not reached the reading start position by the line sensor 12, the determination is negative and the determination in step 240 is performed again. In step 240, when the inspection image reaches the reading start position by the line sensor 12, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 242.

  In step 242, the control unit 14 controls the line sensor 12 so that reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is started. Thereby, reading of the inspection image is started by the line sensor 12.

  In the next step 244, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is finished. If the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is not completed in step 244, the determination is negative and the determination in step 244 is performed again. In step 244, when the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is completed, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 246.

  In step 246, the control unit 14 determines whether or not there is a step in the inspection image by determining whether or not step information is included in the reading result of the inspection image by the line sensor 12.

  If there is no step in the inspection image at step 246, the determination is negative and the routine proceeds to step 252. If there is a step in the inspection image at step 246, the determination is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 248.

  In step 248, the control unit 14 generates feature information indicating the feature of the step indicated by the step information included in the reading result of the line sensor 12 with respect to the inspection image and stores (overwrites) the feature information in the secondary storage unit 44. .

  If the feature information is not stored in the secondary storage unit 44 when the execution of the process in step 248 is started, the feature information generated in this step 248 is newly stored in the secondary storage unit 44. Remembered.

  In addition, when the feature information is already stored in the secondary storage unit 44 at the time when the execution of this step 248 processing is started, the feature information generated in this step 248 is stored in the secondary storage unit 44 (overwriting). The feature information in the secondary storage unit 44 is updated. In this case, of the feature information stored in the secondary storage unit 44, only the difference from the feature information generated in this step 248 is changed. For example, when only the amplitude of the step in the feature information has changed, only the amplitude of the step is changed. Specifically, in the feature information that has already been stored, the trigonometric function indicating the amplitude of the step and the period of the step is expressed by 2 sin (π / 6), and the step amplitude is changed to double. The trigonometric function indicating the amplitude and step period is changed to 4 sin (π / 6).

  In the next step 250, the control unit 14 uses the feature information to set the set value of the droplet discharge amount by the specific nozzle 161 (the recording condition according to the present invention) so that the step in the recording target image is suppressed. Example). The specific nozzle 161 refers to the nozzle 161 at a position corresponding to the position of the step, for example. The set value is a value that indicates the amount by which the droplet discharge amount is increased, and is set for each nozzle 161. The amount of droplets discharged from the nozzle 161 increases as the set value increases. The size of the droplet is defined by three sizes, “large”, “medium”, and “small”. When the set value is the default value, the size of the droplet is “medium”. is there.

  Note that in this step 250, instead of changing the setting value, the image information may be corrected so that a step in the recording target image is suppressed.

  In the next step 252, the control unit 14 resets the count value, and then proceeds to step 226. Here, resetting the count value means returning the count value to “0”.

  On the other hand, if the recording of the recording target image for one job on the paper 114 is completed in step 230, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 254.

  In step 254, after performing the reset process, the control unit 14 ends the main image recording process. The reset process refers to, for example, a process of resetting the count value, returning the setting value to the default value, and erasing the feature information stored in the secondary storage unit 44.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the inspection image is recorded regardless of the operation condition of the recording head 140 (step 202) is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation of the recording head 140 is performed. An inspection image may be recorded for each condition.

  In this case, for example, first, the control unit 14 changes the pressure of the pressure chamber 162 to control the recording head 140 so that the inspection image is recorded on the paper 114 at each of a plurality of pressures, and each inspection image. Is read by the line sensor 12. Next, the control unit 14 stores the feature information indicating the feature of the step of the inspection image recorded at each of the plurality of pressures by storing the feature information in the secondary storage unit 44 for each pressure. While the feature information is stored for each pressure in the secondary storage unit 44, the control unit 14 measures the current pressure in the pressure chamber 162 using a pressure sensor (not shown) during execution of the job, Feature information corresponding to the measured pressure is acquired from the secondary storage unit 44. Then, the control unit 14 corrects the image information or changes the set value of the droplet discharge amount so that the step in the recording target image is suppressed using the acquired feature information.

  The secondary storage unit 44 stores the feature information a associated with the pressure A and the feature information b associated with the pressure B. When the pressure C is measured during job execution, the feature information What is necessary is just to correct | amend image information etc. using the feature information obtained by interpolating information a and b.

  Further, instead of the pressure in the pressure chamber 162, the temperature of the droplet filled in the recording head 140 may be used. Further, by changing both the pressure in the pressure chamber 162 and the temperature of the droplet filled in the recording head 140, an inspection image may be recorded on the paper 114 for each of a plurality of combinations of pressure and temperature. . In this case, the control unit 14 measures the current pressure of the pressure chamber 162 and the current temperature of the droplet during job execution, and acquires characteristic information corresponding to the measured pressure and temperature from the secondary storage unit 44. You can do it.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the case where the image information is corrected using the reading result for the inspection image is exemplified. However, in the second embodiment, the image information is corrected using the reading result for the recording target image. The case will be described. In the second embodiment, the same members as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the image recording apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment is different from the image recording apparatus 100 described in the first embodiment in that a controller 302 is provided instead of the controller 10. The controller 302 differs from the controller 10 in that it includes a secondary storage unit 304 instead of the secondary storage unit 44. The secondary storage unit 304 is different from the secondary storage unit 44 in that it has an image recording program 306 instead of the image recording program 68.

  The CPU 40 operates as the control unit 14 illustrated in FIG. 7 by reading the image recording program 306 from the secondary storage unit 44, developing it in the primary storage unit 42, and executing the image recording program 306.

  Next, as an operation of the second embodiment, an image recording process performed by the image recording apparatus 300 by executing the image recording program 306 every time the CPU 40 acquires image recording request information will be described with reference to FIG. explain.

  The image recording process according to the second embodiment is different from the image recording process according to the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 16 as an example, instead of the processes of steps 200 to 214 shown in FIG. The difference is that it has 362 processes. Further, the image recording process according to the second embodiment is different from the image recording process according to the first embodiment in that steps 216 to 224 shown in FIG. 12 are removed as shown in FIG. 17 as an example. . In the following description, the same steps as those included in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the image recording process shown in FIG. 16, first, in step 350, the control unit 14 uses the pre-correction image information that is uncorrected image information so that the recording target image is recorded on the paper 114. 140 is controlled. As a result, the recording target image is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140.

  In the next step 352, the control unit 14 controls the line sensor 12 so that reading of the recording target image by the line sensor 12 is started. Thereby, reading of the recording target image is started by the line sensor 12.

  In the next step 354, the control unit 14 determines whether or not the reading of the recording target image by the line sensor 12 is finished. If the reading of the test image by the line sensor 12 is not completed in step 354, the determination is negative and the determination in step 354 is performed again. If the reading of the inspection image by the line sensor 12 is completed in step 354, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 356.

  In step 356, the control unit 14 determines whether or not a step exists in the recording target image by determining whether or not the step information is included in the reading result of the line sensor 12 with respect to the recording target image. To do. In step 356, the control unit 14 calculates a difference between the reading result of the line sensor 12 with respect to the recording target image and the recording target image indicated by the pre-correction image information, and step information is included in the reading result from the calculated difference. It is determined whether it is not included.

  If there is no step in the recording target image in step 358, the determination is negative, and the process proceeds to step 226 shown in FIG. If there is a step in the recording target image in step 358, the determination is affirmed and the process proceeds to step 360.

  In step 360, the control unit 14 generates feature information indicating the feature of the step indicated by the step information included in the reading result by the line sensor 12 for the recording target image, and stores (stores and overwrites) the feature information in the secondary storage unit 44. .

  In this step 360, the feature information refers to information including the amplitude of the step and the period of the step, for example. The feature information also includes position feature information for specifying the start position and end position of the step in the recording target image in the sub-scanning direction, and the nozzle number.

  In the next step 362, the control unit 14 causes the read result and the pre-correction image so that there is no difference between the read result and the recording target image recorded on the paper 114 and the pre-correction image information. The image information is corrected using the comparison result with the information. Therefore, in the next step 226, the officially adopted image is recorded on the paper 114 by the recording head 140 using the corrected image information that is the image information corrected in the present step 362. As a result, the officially adopted image in which the level difference is suppressed is recorded on the paper 114.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the image information is corrected using the feature information is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image information may be corrected using the read result itself.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the feature information includes the step period, the step amplitude, the position feature information, and the nozzle number has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the feature information may be information including at least one of the step period and the step amplitude, which is information specified from the reading result among the step period, step amplitude, position feature information, and nozzle number. . Further, since the position feature information and the nozzle number are information specified from the divided image, the control unit 14 refers to the divided image and the position feature information and the nozzle when the divided image is obtained as a condition-full image. The number may be acquired and held separately from the feature information.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the amplitude of the step and the period of the step are formulated is illustrated, but not limited to this, only the period of the step may be formulated. Further, the amplitude of the step, the period of the step, and the position feature information may be formulated.

  In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the image information is corrected in step 214 has been described as an example of changing the recording condition. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in step 214, as shown in step 250 as an example, the set value of the droplet discharge amount may be changed.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the processing in steps 202 to 214 is repeated until no step is detected from the trial image is illustrated, but the processing in steps 216 to 224 may be omitted.

  In each of the above embodiments, for convenience of explanation, the description has been made on the assumption that the image to be recorded indicated by the image information included in the image recording request information is one type of image when the image recording process is executed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the image recording process, the recording target image indicated by the image information included in the image recording request information may be a plurality of types of images. In this case, image recording processing may be performed for each type of image.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, a square image is exemplified as the divided image and the inspection image, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the divided image and the inspection image are images having a shape other than the rectangular shape. It may be.

  In each of the above embodiments, the periodic step condition is a condition that combines the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, one of the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition may be a periodic step condition, or the first condition, the second condition, and the third condition. Any combination of these two conditions may be used as the periodic step condition. In addition, in the periodic step condition, the condition (fourth condition) that the divided image is a specific single color image (for example, a blue image) or the length in the main scanning direction is equal to or longer than a predetermined length. A condition (fifth condition) or the like may be added.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the ink jet type image recording apparatus 100 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to other recording type image recording apparatuses. Applies. Examples of other recording methods include a xerographic method using an LED (Light Emitting Diode) head, a thermal method using a thermal head, and a magnetic method using a magnetic head.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the software form in which each step of the image recording program 68 (306) is realized by the CPU 40 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a hardware form configured by connecting various circuits (for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)), or a form combining a software form and a hardware form may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Controller 12 Line head 14 Control part 70 Recording object image 72 Inspection image 100 Image recording apparatus 114 Paper 140 Recording head A1, B1, C1, D1, E1, F1, G1 Division | segmentation image A2, B2, C2 Division | segmentation image for inspection

Claims (17)

Recording means for recording an image on a recording medium that is relatively moving in the sub-scanning direction;
An inspection image having an image corresponding to an image satisfying a predetermined periodic step as a condition for generating a periodic step of density in the sub-scanning direction among the recording target images recorded by the recording unit. Is recorded on the recording medium, and the reading result obtained by reading the inspection image recorded on the recording medium by the reading means includes step information indicating the step. Control means for controlling the recording means so that the recording target image in which the step is suppressed is recorded on a recording medium using the reading result;
An image recording apparatus.   The control means controls the recording means so that the recording target image in which the step is suppressed is recorded on a recording medium using feature information indicating the feature of the step indicated by the step information included in the reading result. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, which is controlled.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the feature information is updated to feature information indicating a feature of a step indicated by the step information included in the updated read result every time the read result is updated. .   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the feature information is feature information including formulation information in which at least a part of the features is formulated.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the feature information is feature information including at least one of a period of the step and a size of the step.   The control means controls the recording means so that the inspection image is recorded on a recording medium every predetermined number of pages when the recording target image is recorded in page units by the recording means. The recording means is controlled so that the recording target image in which the step is suppressed is recorded on a recording medium by using the reading result when the step information is included in the reading result. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5. Feature information indicating features of the steps of each of the inspection images recorded on the recording medium by the recording unit under each of the plurality of operating conditions of the recording unit is held for each of the operating conditions.
The control unit uses the feature information corresponding to the current operation condition of the recording unit among the feature information in the holding state so that the recording target image in which the step is suppressed is recorded on a recording medium. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus controls the recording unit.   When the step information is included in the reading result, the control unit tries the recording target image on a recording medium under a recording condition changed using the reading result so that the step is suppressed. The recording medium used for recording the trial image when the step information is not included in the result obtained by controlling the recording medium to be recorded as an image and reading the trial image. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is controlled so that the recording target image is recorded on the recording medium as a formally adopted image under conditions.   The control means records the inspection image under the recording conditions used when recording the test image when the step information is included in a result obtained by reading the test image. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording unit is controlled so as to be recorded on a medium. The inspection image includes an inspection divided image having an image corresponding to a divided image satisfying the periodic step condition among divided images obtained by dividing the recording target image for each image characteristic. And
The control means, when the step information is included in a result obtained by reading the test image, the inspection corresponding to the divided image at a position corresponding to the position of the step indicated by the step information. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the recording unit is controlled so that the inspection image having only the divided image for recording is recorded on a recording medium.   When the step information is included in the reading result, the control unit corrects and corrects image information indicating the recording target image using the reading result so that the step is suppressed. The image information before correction when the recording unit is controlled to record the recording target image on a recording medium using the image information, and the condition for recording the inspection image on the recording medium is satisfied. The recording image is recorded such that the inspection image having an image corresponding to an image satisfying the periodic step condition among the recording target images indicated by the image is recorded on a recording medium using the corrected image information. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which controls the means.   The control unit corrects the image information using a result obtained by reading the recording target image recorded on a recording medium by the recording unit using image information indicating the recording target image, and performs correction. When the recording unit is controlled using the image information thus recorded so that the recording target image is recorded on a recording medium, and the condition for recording the inspection image on the recording medium is satisfied, the pre-correction The inspection image having an image corresponding to an image that satisfies the periodic step condition among the recording target images indicated by the image information is recorded on a recording medium using the corrected image information. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording unit is controlled. The inspection image includes an inspection divided image having an image corresponding to a divided image satisfying the periodic step condition among divided images obtained by dividing the recording target image for each image characteristic. And
The control means, when the step information is included in the reading result, the step of the divided image corresponding to the inspection divided image in which the step exists is suppressed using the reading result. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the recording unit is controlled so that an image to be recorded is recorded on a recording medium.   The length in the sub-scanning direction of the divided image for inspection corresponding to the divided image whose length in the sub-scanning direction is less than a predetermined length is longer than the length of the corresponding divided image in the sub-scanning direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image recording apparatus is longer.   The periodic step condition is that the density is equal to or higher than a predetermined density, the density difference in the region is less than the predetermined density difference, and the length in the sub-scanning direction is predetermined. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus has a condition that the length is equal to or longer than the length.   The image recording according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the recording unit is a droplet discharge unit having a plurality of droplet discharge elements that record an image by discharging droplets onto a recording medium. apparatus. Computer
The program for functioning as a control means contained in the image recording device of any one of Claims 1-16.