JP2019181797A - Information processing device, inkjet recording device, and image recording adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an information processing device, an inkjet recording device, and an image recording adjustment method that adjust an ink discharge timing relating to stable output of images of higher quality.SOLUTION: An information processing device includes a control section relating to operation setting of an inkjet recording device which is provided with: a conveyance part for recording media, having a rotary roller; a signal generation part for generating a timing signal in accordance with rotation of the rotary roller; and a plurality of recording operation parts for discharging ink at an operation timing based on the timing signal. The control section specifies recording positions of indicators according to the plurality of recording operation parts, calculates a reference position obtained by applying weighted averaging to the recording positions of the indicators that will be aligned on the same line if a rotation surface speed of the rotary roller is constant, in accordance with a positional relationship of the recording operation parts, identifies a deviation amount of the operation timing for each rotation phase of the rotary roller to offset a difference between the recording position of the indicator and the reference position, and then, performs setting for moving the deviation amount of the operation timing identified in each rotation phase.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an inkjet recording apparatus, and an image recording adjustment method.

  There is an ink jet recording apparatus that has a plurality of recording operation units having nozzles for ejecting ink and records color images and structures on a medium by discharging inks of different colors from the plurality of recording operation units. When the medium is transported relative to the recording operation section by the transport section, ink of each color is sequentially ejected onto the medium.

  However, due to problems such as the structure and operation of the transport unit and the characteristics of the medium, there is a problem that the position where the ink lands on the medium may deviate from the assumed position for each recording operation unit. . Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for changing the number of pulses indicating a difference in ink ejection timing between different heads in consideration of expansion and contraction of a medium according to humidity. Further, in this technique, when identifying the difference in the ink ejection timing between the heads, the ink ejection from a plurality of recording operation units is performed every 1/4 cycle of the transportation speed unevenness due to the eccentricity of the transportation roller related to the transportation operation. A technique is disclosed in which a relative displacement amount of a position is obtained and a correction value of an average ink discharge timing is calculated based on the average value thereof, thereby suppressing a large displacement between recording operation units. ing.

JP 2011-245802 A

  However, the conventional technique cannot suppress the periodic fluctuation itself of the deviation of the ink landing positions between the recording operation portions due to the unevenness of the conveyance speed, and there is a problem that the deterioration of the image quality still remains.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus, and an image recording adjustment method capable of adjusting the ink discharge timing so that a higher quality image can be output stably.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1
A transport unit that moves the recording medium in a first direction at a speed corresponding to the rotational movement speed of the rotating surface of the rotating roller, a signal generating unit that generates a timing signal for each change in the predetermined rotational phase of the rotating roller, and An inkjet having a plurality of recording operation units that eject ink from nozzles to different positions in the first direction toward the conveyance surface of the recording medium by the conveyance unit at an operation timing determined based on a timing signal A control unit configured to perform settings related to the adjustment of the operation timing in the recording apparatus;
The controller is
From the read image of the recording medium on which a plurality of unit pattern markers formed at predetermined intervals of the timing signal by ink ejection from the plurality of recording operation units are recorded, the plurality of unit pattern markers in the first direction Specify each recording position,
If the rotational movement speed is constant, the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers formed at the same position in the first direction by the plurality of recording operation units are respectively related to the positional relationship of the plurality of recording operation units. Calculate the average reference position weighted according to
Identifying the amount of shift in the operation timing that cancels the difference between the recording position of the plurality of unit pattern labels and the reference position in association with the rotation phase;
For each rotational phase related to the generation timing of the timing signal, a setting related to adjustment for moving the operation timing from the generation timing of the timing signal by the shift amount corresponding to the rotational phase is performed. It is.

The invention according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The weighting coefficient for the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers relating to the weighting is determined according to the value of the ratio of the distance in the first direction between the plurality of recording operation units with respect to the circumference of the rotating roller. It is characterized by.

The invention according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The sum of the weighting coefficients for the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers related to the weighting is one.

Moreover, invention of Claim 4 is an information processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
A storage unit is provided that stores the rotation phase of the rotating roller and the shift amount related to the operation timing in association with each other.

The invention according to claim 5 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The signal generation unit outputs a reference timing signal indicating a reference phase of the rotation phase;
The control unit uses a relative phase from the reference phase as the rotation phase.

Moreover, invention of Claim 6 is an information processing apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5,
The plurality of recording operation units each have a plurality of head modules provided with the plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, and each of the unit pattern indicators is recorded by a single head module. It is characterized by being.

The invention according to claim 7
The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The plurality of recording operation units;
A transport unit that includes the rotating roller and moves the recording medium in the first direction;
With
The recording operation unit is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs an ink ejection operation at the operation timing shifted by the shift amount corresponding to the rotation phase from the generation timing.

The invention according to claim 8 is the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7,
In the plurality of recording operation units, an arrangement interval in the first direction is not an integral number of a peripheral length of the rotating roller.

The invention according to claim 9 is the ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 7 or 8,
A reading unit provided on the downstream side in the first direction of the recording operation unit to read the surface of the recording medium conveyed in the first direction;
The controller is
While the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, the unit pattern mark is recorded on the surface of the recording medium at the operation timing synchronized with the generation timing by the recording operation unit,
Reading the recorded unit pattern mark by the reading unit,
The rotation phase at the time of recording of the read unit pattern mark is specified based on the timing signal,
The shift amount is set based on the rotation phase and the read image.

The invention according to claim 10
A transport unit that moves the recording medium in a first direction at a speed corresponding to the rotational movement speed of the rotating surface of the rotating roller, a signal generating unit that generates a timing signal for each change in the predetermined rotational phase of the rotating roller, and An inkjet having a plurality of recording operation units that eject ink from nozzles to different positions in the first direction toward the conveyance surface of the recording medium by the conveyance unit at an operation timing determined based on a timing signal An image recording adjustment method for performing settings related to adjustment of the operation timing in a recording apparatus,
From the read image of the recording medium on which a plurality of unit pattern markers formed at predetermined intervals of the timing signal by ink ejection from the plurality of recording operation units are recorded, the plurality of unit pattern markers in the first direction A recording position specifying step for specifying each recording position;
If the rotational movement speed is constant, the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers formed at the same position in the first direction by the plurality of recording operation units are respectively related to the positional relationship of the plurality of recording operation units. A reference position calculating step of calculating a reference position averaged by weighting according to
A deviation amount identifying step for identifying the movement timing deviation amount that cancels out the difference between the recording position and the reference position of the plurality of unit pattern labels in association with a rotation phase,
An adjustment amount setting step for performing a setting related to adjustment for moving the operation timing from the generation timing of the timing signal by the shift amount corresponding to the rotation phase for each rotation phase related to the generation timing of the timing signal;
The image recording adjustment method is characterized by comprising:

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that the ink discharge timing can be adjusted so that a higher quality image can be output stably.

It is the schematic diagram which looked at the inkjet recording device from the front. It is a bottom view which shows the surface facing the conveyance surface of a head unit. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of an inkjet recording device. It is a figure explaining the position shift according to eccentricity. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the image recording control process performed with an inkjet recording device. It is a figure explaining a test image. It is a figure explaining a weighting coefficient. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change pattern of a positional deviation amount of ink ejected from a head unit. It is a flowchart which shows the control procedure of the timing correction setting process performed with an inkjet recording device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a transport unit 10, a signal generation unit 15, an image forming unit 20, an image reading unit 30 (reading unit), a fixing unit 40, a medium detection unit 50, and the like.

  The transport unit 10 includes a driven roller 11 (rotary roller), a transport belt 12, a drive roller 13, and the like. The conveyor belt 12 is stretched between the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 11. The conveyance unit 10 moves relative to the image forming unit 20 in a predetermined conveyance direction (first direction) with the outer peripheral surface of the conveyance belt 12 as a conveyance surface by the rotation of the driving roller 13 by the conveyance motor 14 (see FIG. 3). Let Thereby, the transport unit 10 moves the recording medium M placed on the transport surface in the transport direction at a speed corresponding to the rotation speed of the drive roller 13 (rotational movement speed of the rotation surface). The driven roller 11 rotates as the transport belt 12 moves. The roller diameters of the driven roller 11 and the driving roller 13 are equal here.

  The signal generator 15 generates and outputs a signal related to the transport operation by the transport unit 10. Here, the signal generating unit 15 is a rotary encoder that detects the rotation of the driven roller 11, and a pulse signal (encoder pulse; every time the driven roller 11 rotates by a predetermined angle (every predetermined rotation phase changes; generation timing)). Timing signal) is generated and output. The predetermined angle here is determined in accordance with the recording resolution, that is, the ink discharge interval in the transport direction. Further, the signal generator 15 outputs a Z-phase signal (reference timing signal) indicating a reference angular position (reference phase) for each rotation of the driven roller 11. That is, the number of encoder pulse outputs from the output timing of the Z-phase signal indicates the rotation angle (relative phase) of the driven roller 11. The transport unit 10 includes a medium supply unit and a medium discharge unit (not shown). The medium supply unit stores the recording medium M and sequentially sends the recording medium M onto the conveyance belt 12, and the medium discharge unit receives and stores the recording medium M discharged from the conveyance belt 12.

  The image forming unit 20 performs a recording operation of recording an image by ejecting ink from nozzles and landing on the upper surface of the recording medium M. Here, the image forming unit 20 includes four head units 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K (a plurality of recording operation units, hereinafter collectively referred to as the head unit 21), which are supplied from an ink storage unit (not shown). The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks are ejected. Each of these head units 21 extends in the width direction over the recordable width of the maximum size recording medium M that can be transported by the transport unit 10 in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction in a plane parallel to the transport surface. A line head structure in which a plurality of nozzles are provided at intervals corresponding to the recording resolution and ink can be ejected. The distance w1 between the detection position by the medium detection unit 50 and the head unit 21Y at the head and the distances w2 to w4 between the head units 21 are appropriately determined, and are not necessarily fixed at a uniform distance or a predetermined distance. Further, the arrangement order of the head units 21 may be determined as appropriate so that an appropriate color can be obtained when the landing positions of a plurality of colors of ink overlap.

  Note that the intervals w2 to w4 (arrangement intervals) are not particularly limited, but may not be an integral number of the peripheral length of the driven roller 11 here due to the characteristics of the disclosed technology. That is, when it is a fraction of an integer, assignment of a weighting coefficient to be described later becomes special (for example, depending on the intervals w2 to w4, the reference position can be obtained even with a simple average using a uniform weighting coefficient. Yes, the merit of calculating the weighting coefficient is reduced.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the surface of the head unit 21 that faces the transport surface.
The head units 21K, 21C, 21M, and 21Y all have the same configuration.

  The head unit 21 (for example, the head unit 21K) is provided with a plurality of (for example, twelve) recording heads 210 (head modules) in which openings of the plurality of nozzles 211 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction on the bottom surface. ing. By arranging the plurality of recording heads 210 in a staggered pattern, the openings of the nozzles 211 are formed at uniform intervals over the maximum width (recordable width) that can be recorded on the recording medium M in the width direction. An arrayed line head is formed. That is, each head unit 21 is fixed during the image recording operation, and in accordance with the conveyance of the recording medium M, the head unit 21 sequentially ejects ink from the nozzles 211 at different positions in the conveyance direction toward the conveyance surface of the recording medium M. By proceeding (that is, at different timings at the same position in the transport direction), an image is recorded by the one-pass method.

  The recording head 210 is not particularly limited, but is arranged so that the arrangement range of the nozzles 211 in the recording heads 210 adjacent to each other in the width direction partially overlaps. The relative positions of the recording heads 210 are detected and held, and the overlapping portions are selectively adjusted so that ink is ejected by the nozzles 211 of any of the recording heads 210 based on the information on the relative positions. This makes it possible to record a uniform image in the width direction.

  The image reading unit 30 is provided on the downstream side of the image forming unit 20 in the transport direction, and the image forming unit 20 can image the recording surface of the recording medium M and output it as imaging data. The image reading unit 30 includes a line sensor 32 (see FIG. 3; an imaging sensor) in which imaging elements are arranged over a width that can be recorded by the head unit 21 in the width direction. The position of the line sensor 32 is fixed with respect to the recording medium M being conveyed. The line sensor 32 sequentially acquires one-dimensional image data within the imaging target range in the width direction from the surface of the recording medium M that is moved relative to the image reading unit 30 by the transport unit 10 in the transport direction. The image reading unit 30 can obtain a two-dimensional image on the recording medium M. As the line sensor 32, for example, a CCD sensor (Charge Coupled Device), a CMOS sensor (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), or the like is used.

  The fixing unit 40 fixes the ink ejected from the image forming unit 20 and landed on the recording medium M. For example, the fixing unit 40 cures and fixes the ultraviolet curable ink on the surface of the recording medium M by irradiating ultraviolet light (ultraviolet light). The fixing operation by the fixing unit 40 may be set on a conveyance belt different from the ink discharge (landing) range by the image forming unit 20 and the image reading range by the image reading unit 30. In this case, The recording medium M on which the image has been recorded is transferred onto the different conveyance belt after the image is read. Further, since the ink is not used in the case of ink that does not require a fixing operation, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 may not include the fixing unit 40.

  The medium detection unit 50 detects the recording medium M placed on the placement surface of the transport unit 10 on the upstream side of the ink landing range by the image forming unit 20 in the transport direction, and outputs a detection signal. As the medium detection unit 50, for example, a visible light or infrared light emission unit, and a detection unit that detects light emitted from the emission unit on the opposite side in the width direction through the conveyance surface are emitted from the emission unit. What detects whether the emitted light was blocked | interrupted by the recording medium M is used.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.

  The inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes a control unit 60 in addition to the transport unit 10, the signal generation unit 15, the image forming unit 20, the image reading unit 30, the fixing unit 40, and the medium detection unit 50. A storage unit 70, a communication unit 80, a display unit 91, an operation reception unit 92, a bus 69, and the like.

  The transport unit 10 includes a transport motor 14. The transport motor 14 rotates at a predetermined rotational angular velocity based on the control of the control unit 60 to rotate the drive roller 13.

  As described above, the signal generation unit 15 outputs the encoder pulse corresponding to the predetermined rotation angle of the driven roller 11 and the Z phase signal in the reference phase (Z phase) for each rotation cycle to the control unit 60.

  The image forming unit 20 includes a head driving unit 22. The head drive unit 22 outputs a drive signal for operating the ink discharge mechanism in the recording head 210 of each head unit 21, and discharges ink from the opening of the operation target nozzle 211 at an appropriate timing (operation timing). . These drive signals are output in parallel to each head unit 21 (recording head 210). In addition, this drive signal is matched with the operation timing based on the timing signal corresponding to the encoder pulse, that is, the time adjustment for moving by a predetermined shift amount (delay amount) with respect to the timing signal generation timing. Is output. As an ink ejection mechanism, for example, a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element provided along an ink flow path communicating with the nozzle 211 to deform the piezoelectric element, and pressure is applied to ink in the ink flow path with a predetermined pressure pattern. The piezo type that discharges ink by applying a current, or heat is generated by passing a current through a heating wire, the ink in the ink flow path is heated, and a part of the ink is vaporized to cause a volume change and apply pressure to the ink. A thermal type for discharging is used. Alternatively, the image forming unit 20 may have another ink ejection mechanism.

  The image reading unit 30 includes an imaging drive unit 31. The imaging drive unit 31 operates the above-described line sensor 32 in synchronization with an appropriate timing, for example, the above-described timing signal, and performs an imaging operation of the surface position of the recording medium M on the transport surface. The array data of the detected light quantity is output as imaging data. The imaging data may be directly output to the RAM 63 or the storage unit 70 by DMA (Direct Memory Access) without being controlled by the CPU 61. Further, a predetermined calibration operation may be performed at the time of conversion from incident light amount data to imaging data. The line sensor 32 is arranged with wavelength filters and / or image sensors that can detect the luminance of each wavelength band of RGB. Further, the image reading unit 30 may include an illumination unit that irradiates the surface of the recording medium M with a predetermined amount of light.

  The fixing unit 40 includes a light emitting unit that emits ultraviolet rays. For example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as the light emitting unit, but the light emitting unit is not limited thereto. A light-shielding portion (hood) that reduces the amount of ultraviolet light leaking outside the irradiation surface on the recording medium M is provided at the end of the ultraviolet light emission side from the fixing unit 40.

  As described above, the medium detection unit 50 includes an emission unit and a light receiving unit. During the transport operation by the transport unit 10, light is emitted from the emitting unit, and the light receiving unit outputs the detection result to the control unit 60 as needed.

  The control unit 60 performs a control operation that comprehensively controls the overall operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. In addition, the control unit 60 performs adjustments related to ink ejection based on the test image recorded (formed) by the image forming unit 20 and read by the image reading unit 30, the overall image quality, and the opening of the nozzle 211. For example, the inspection and response related to the ink ejection from each of them is performed.

  The control unit 60 includes a CPU 61 (Central Processing Unit), a ROM 62 (Read Only Memory), a RAM 63 (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU 61 performs various processes related to operation control by performing arithmetic processing. The ROM 62 stores a control program related to operation control. As the ROM 62, a mask ROM, a readable / writable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory, or a combination thereof is used. In addition, the control unit 60 may include a configuration other than the CPU 61 (for example, a delay circuit, a shift register, or the like) when performing delay output of timing pulses described later in hardware. The control unit 60 is included in the information processing apparatus of this embodiment.

  The RAM 63 provides a working memory space for the CPU 61 and stores temporary data and various settings. As the RAM 63, various volatile memories such as SRAM and DRAM are used.

  The storage unit 70 stores image formation data (image data of an output target image) acquired through the communication unit 80, processing data thereof, and the like. In addition, the storage unit 70 may store various execution programs related to the image recording operation, and the CPU 61 reads out and loads the execution program on the RAM 63 when the execution program is executed. As the storage unit 70, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flash memory, and a RAM (DRAM) can be used in combination. The data stored in the storage unit 70 includes timing correction information 71 and arrangement information 72 described later. In the arrangement information 72, structural parameters of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 such as intervals w1 to w4 related to the head units 21 and information on the roller diameter of the driven roller 11 are stored.

  The communication unit 80 acquires image formation data and a print job from an external computer terminal or a print server according to a predetermined communication protocol, and outputs a status signal related to the image recording status.

  Based on the control of the control unit 60, the display unit 91 displays a menu screen and status information related to the user's input operation reception. The display unit 91 includes, for example, a liquid crystal screen or an organic EL display as a display screen, and a display driver (drive unit) related to the operation of the display screen. The display unit 91 may include an LED lamp for notification and warning.

  The operation receiving unit 92 receives an input operation from the outside such as a user and outputs an operation signal to the control unit 60. For example, the operation reception unit 92 is provided so as to overlap the display screen. The operation receiving unit 92 may include a push button switch, a rotation switch, or the like instead of or in addition to the touch panel.

  The bus 69 is a transmission path for transmitting and receiving signals between the control unit 60 and other components.

Next, an image recording operation in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
In the inkjet recording apparatus 1, the head driving unit 22 obtains an encoder pulse from the signal generation unit 15, that is, every time the driven roller 11 rotates by a predetermined angle (if the original, the conveyance belt 12 is a predetermined distance). Each time the head unit 21 is moved, one line of ink is ejected from the head unit 21 in the width direction. As described above, by acquiring the Z-phase signal, the relative phase of the rotation phase with respect to the reference phase related to the Z-phase signal is specified, and the medium detection unit 50 performs the leading (downstream end) in the conveyance direction of the recording medium M. ) At which the ink is ejected from each head unit 21 with respect to each position in the conveyance direction of the recording medium M, based on the relative phase at the timing at which the position is detected and the intervals w1 to w4. Identified.

  However, the rotation angle of the driven roller 11 detected by the signal generator 15 and the amount of movement of the conveyor belt 12 are not necessarily proportional to each other due to structural errors in each part. Here, the control unit 60 uses the rotational phase of the driven roller 11 as a deviation based on the eccentricity of the driven roller 11, which appears periodically and is difficult to ignore among the deviations between the rotation angle and the movement amount. The operation timing correction (adjustment) related to the corresponding ink ejection operation is performed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining misalignment according to eccentricity.
When the distance R from the axial position OA of the driven roller 11 to the surface of the driven roller 11 having the radius r is the distance d ₁ between the center OR of the driven roller 11 and the axial position OA, the distance from the central OR to the axial position OA. Since R ² = r ² + d ₁ ² −r · d · cos θ ₁ based on the phase θ1 (angle) with reference to the direction (axial direction) of d ₁ , d ₁ is sufficiently smaller than r the (shown greatly emphasized in FIG. 4) is obtained as _{R = r-d1 · cosθ 1} .

The moving speed vb of the conveying belt 12 is a surface (contact surface) speed vr = R · at a predetermined position on the surface of the driven roller 11, for example, a position where the conveying belt 12 first contacts the driven roller 11 (upper side in FIG. 1). Equal to ω (ω is rotation angle (angular velocity)). When the axial direction overlaps the predetermined position direction (θ ₁ = 0 degree (phase 0)), the detected rotation angle ω = vb / R = vb / (r−d ₁ ) with respect to the moving speed becomes large, and the axial direction Is opposite to the predetermined position direction (θ ₁ = 180 degrees (phase π)), the detected rotation angle ω = vb / (r + d ₁ ) becomes small. That is, the moving speed vb, that is, the conveyance speed of the recording medium is not constant even if the output interval of the encoder pulse (the time interval at which the rotation (phase change) of the detected rotation angle ω occurs in the driven roller 11) is equal. It will be.

Actually, not only the driven roller 11 but also the distance d ₂ and the phase θ ₂ (angle) related to the axial deviation of the driving roller 13 exist. Accordingly, the substantial change (r−R) in the radius r is the distance d ₁ , d ₂ , the rotational phase φ of the driven roller 11, and the amplitude d ₀ and the phase difference synthesized according to the phases θ ₁ , θ _2. δ is d ₀ · cos (φ + δ). The deviation (r−R) · ω ₀ of the minute movement distance mx = Rω ₀ during the rotation (phase change) of the minute rotation angle ω ₀ is d ₀ · ω ₀ · cos (φ + ω ₀ · t + δ), The difference value dx related to the position deviation is integrated by the deviation amount of the minute movement distance mx to be the difference value dx to d ₀ · sin (φ + δ).

  Due to this periodic change, each head unit 21 causes the same position in the transport direction of the recording medium M to correspond to the distances w2 to w4 and the circumferential length LR (length of one rotation surface) of the driven roller 11. Ink is ejected at different phases φ. Therefore, the ink droplets that are supposed to land at the same position in the transport direction have a landing position shift corresponding to the phase φ that differs between colors. Further, the same change occurs in the photographing timing by the line sensor 32 of the image reading unit 30.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 1, the interval between the ink discharge timings is periodically changed so as to cancel (cancel) the difference value dx that periodically changes (that is, a value obtained by inverting the sign of the difference value that changes in a sine wave shape). The delay amount (shift amount) for increasing or decreasing the value is identified. The amount of delay is determined in association with the number of encoder pulse acquisitions (rotation phase) from the Z phase, for example, for the generation timing of encoder pulses (timing signal) for one rotation of the driven roller 11. The amount of delay is determined by a number corresponding to a predetermined fraction of a normal encoder pulse interval, here 1/256. In order not to make the delay amount negative, that is, not before the acquisition timing of the encoder pulse, a reference delay amount is set when the deviation amount is zero, and the timing is always delayed from the acquisition timing of the encoder pulse. It is possible to control to output a signal to the head driving unit 22.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the control unit 60 of the image recording control process executed in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.
This image recording control process is started when an image recording command (print job) is acquired.

  When the image recording control process is started, the control unit 60 (CPU 61) acquires the input image data. Moreover, the control part 60 acquires the timing correction information 71 (step S101). The control unit 60 performs image processing for recording the image based on the acquired image data, and converts it into image data for driving the head unit 21 (that is, data relating to the presence or absence of ink ejection from each nozzle 211). (Step S102). The image processing can include, for example, color conversion processing from RGB images to ink colors (CMYK), correction processing such as gradation and contrast, and the like.

  The control unit 60 starts the transport operation at a predetermined speed (the rotation speed of the transport motor 14) by the transport unit 10 (step S103). Note that this process is unnecessary if the image recording operation for a plurality of jobs is continuously performed and the conveyance operation of the conveyance unit 10 is not stopped before the end of the previous image recording control process. is there.

  The controller 60 determines whether a Z-phase signal has been acquired (step S104). If it is determined that the encoder pulse has been acquired, the encoder pulse count value is initialized (step S105). Then, the process of the control unit 60 proceeds to step S106. If it is determined that it has not been acquired, the processing of the control unit 60 proceeds to step S106. If the count value originally has a configuration (loop counter) that circulates (resets) by the number of phases of the signal generator 15 (the number of times the encoder pulse is generated during one revolution) (step S104, S105). This processing is not necessary.

  When the process proceeds to step S106, the control unit 60 determines whether an encoder pulse has been input (step S106). If it is determined that the encoder pulse is not input (“NO” in step S106), the process of the control unit 60 returns to step S104.

  When it is determined that an encoder pulse has been input (“YES” in step S106), the control unit 60 adds “1” to the count value. Further, the control unit 60 refers to the acquired timing correction information and acquires a delay amount (deviation amount) of timing according to the count value (that is, the rotational phase of the driven roller 11) (step S107).

  The control unit 60 outputs line image data for one line from which ink is next ejected to the head driving unit 22 (step S108). The lines output in CMYK colors are different by distances corresponding to the intervals w2 to w4. The control unit 60 outputs a timing signal to the head driving unit 22 at a timing when a time corresponding to the acquired delay amount has elapsed with respect to the timing at which the encoder pulse is input (step S109). Accordingly, the head driving unit 22 performs a driving operation for ejecting ink according to the timing signal.

  The controller 60 switches on / off the ultraviolet irradiation operation by the fixing unit 40 according to the transport position of the recording medium M (step S110).

  The controller 60 determines whether or not output of all line image data has been completed for all head units 21 (step S111). If it is determined that the process has not been completed (“NO” in step S111), the process of the control unit 60 returns to step S104.

  If it is determined that all the outputs have been completed (“YES” in step S111), the control unit 60 performs an end process of the image recording operation (step S112). The termination process may include a discharge operation of the recording medium M after image recording and a stop of the operation of the transport unit 10 after discharge. When the image recording operation relating to the next job is performed subsequently, the operation of the transport unit 10 may not be stopped. Then, the control unit 60 ends the image recording control process.

Next, setting of timing correction information will be described.
The timing correction information 71 is determined based on an actual measurement value based on a predetermined test image recorded by the inkjet recording apparatus 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the test image Im.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the test image Im includes a plurality of columns, here, 12 image blocks Im1 to Im12 in the width direction. The twelve rows of image blocks Im1 to Im12 correspond to the twelve recording heads 210 included in the head unit 21, respectively. That is, each of the image blocks Im1 to Im12 includes an image recorded by the single recording head 210. This test image Im is longer than the circumferential length LR of the driven roller 11 in the transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, in each of the image blocks Im1 to Im12 (here, the image block Im1), 15 cross marks Tp in the width direction are recorded at a predetermined interval in the transport direction. The 15 cross marks Tp are a set of 5 pieces each. In the width direction, these are the pattern group Gc1 formed by discharging the cyan ink from the head unit 21C, the pattern groups Gk1 and Gk2 formed by discharging the black ink from the head unit 21K, and magenta from the head unit 21M. A pattern group Gm1 formed by discharging the color ink, and a pattern group Gy1 formed by discharging the yellow ink from the head unit 21Y. Ideally (that is, if the transport speed is constant), the 15 cross marks Tp are ejected at the timing when they are recorded at the same position in the transport direction (that is, on a line extending in the width direction). However, as described above, there is a shift in the transport direction corresponding to the eccentricity unevenness.

  The cross mark Tp is a predetermined unit number of encoder pulses (a predetermined cycle of the timing signal) that is sufficiently smaller than the encoder pulse number Nr based on the signal generated from the signal generator 15 during the rotation of the driven roller 11 in the transport direction. ), For example, every 100 times (that is, every 100 / Nr period), a horizontal line (a line extending in the width direction) of the mark Tp is always formed (in the case of a plurality of pixels, the horizontal line is the center). In addition, Nr / 100 pieces (rounded down) are recorded for each pattern group.

  As a result, for each 100 / Nr period, 36 sets of (multiple) sets of five cross marks Tp (unit pattern indicators) are recorded. By calculating a reference position in the set of cross marks Tp and obtaining a difference from the reference position of each cross mark Tp, a change in the difference value every 100 / Nr period for each ink color, that is, a driven roller. A change pattern of the difference value during 11 turns is obtained. The difference value is obtained based on the position of each cross mark Tp specified from the read image of the test image Im by the image reading unit 30 in the transport direction.

Next, the reference position will be described. As described above, the reference position W0 is a point that determines the difference values dw1 to dw4 from the reference position W0 of the ink ejected from each head unit 21 in each set of five cross marks Tp. The reference position W0 is a position obtained by weighting and averaging the positions of the cross marks Tp using a predetermined weighting coefficient Pk (k = 1 to 4). Σ _{(k = 1 to 4)} Pk · (W0 + dwk) = W0, Σ _{(k = 1 to 4)} Pk · dwk = 0. That is, the sum of the weighting coefficients Pk (k = 1 to 4) is normalized to “1”, Σ _{(k = 1 to 4)} Pk = 1... (1).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the weighting coefficient Pk.
As described above, the four head units 21 are provided with the intervals between the head units 21 in the order of the intervals w2 to w4. Thereby, the difference in the ejection timing of the ink onto the recording medium becomes the difference in the rotational phase of the driven roller 11 corresponding to the intervals w2 to w4. That is, the distance between the head unit 21C and the head unit 21M corresponds to the phase difference df1 = 2π · w2 / LR with respect to the circumferential length LR of the driven roller 11. Similarly, the distance between the head unit 21M and the head unit 21Y corresponds to the phase difference df2 = 2π · w3 / LR, and the distance between the head unit 21Y and the head unit 21K is equal to the phase difference df3 = 2π · w4 / LR. Corresponds to LR.

When ink is ejected (landed) from the head unit 21C at the initial phase φ0, the head unit 21M has a phase φ1 = φ0 + df1, the head unit 21C has a phase φ2 = φ0 + df1 + df2, and the head unit 21K has a phase φ3 = φ0 + df1 + df2 + df3, respectively. Ink is ejected (landing). As described above, the difference value dx is dx = d0 · sin (φ + δ), and at each head unit 21 position, the difference value is a periodic difference value with the same period and the same amplitude and the above-described phase difference shift. dx is generated. Therefore, Σ _{(k = 0 to 3)} Pk · sin (φ _k ) = 0 may be set for the arbitrary initial phase φ0 by the weighting coefficient Pk.

This
P1 + P2 · cos (df1) + P3 · cos (df1 + df2) + P4 · cos (df1 + df2 + df3) = 0 (2)
P2 · sin (df1) + P3 · sin (df1 + df2) + P4 · sin (df1 + df2 + df3) = 0 (3)
It becomes. That is, the lengths of the vectors P1 to P4 are determined so that the sum of the P1 to P4 vectors extending in the angular direction corresponding to the phase is canceled as a whole.

  Corresponding to these two formulas (2) and (3), two of the four weighting coefficients P1 to P4 are fixed (for example, P1 and P4 are “1.0”, respectively), and the remaining two are The weighting coefficients P1 to P4 are determined by obtaining and normalizing P1 to P4 according to the above equation (1). That is, the weighting factors P1 to P4 are parameters determined by the ratio between the distances w2 to w4 of the four head units 21 and the peripheral length LR of the driven roller 11 according to the positional relationship of the four head units 21. Also, different combinations of values can be obtained depending on the selection of two weighting factors to be fixed.

  In this way, when the weighting coefficients P1 to P4 are obtained in advance, the positions Z1 to Z4 of the cross marks Tp of each color of each set acquired from the read image of the test image (one is selected for the black color) (Or addition average) is directly multiplied by the weighting coefficients P1 to P4, and the sum of the weighted values Pk · dwk of the positional deviation becomes zero, and the sum of the moving components according to the weighted transport speed is directly used as the reference position W0. It becomes. Then, difference values dw1 to dw4 between the position of each cross mark Tp and the reference position W0 are obtained.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change pattern of the deviation amount of the ink ejected from the head unit 21C. The change pattern is a sinusoidal waveform corresponding to the eccentricity, which is influenced by the high-frequency vibration component and other components. Other components may be corrected separately, and unexpected noise may be excluded by smoothing or the like. Further, the high-frequency vibration component may be simply removed using, for example, a low-pass filter (low-pass filter).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure by the control unit 60 of the timing correction setting process (image recording adjustment method of the present embodiment) executed in the inkjet recording apparatus 1. The timing correction setting process is started based on a predetermined command received by the operation receiving unit 92.

  When the timing correction setting process is started, the control unit 60 operates the transport unit 10 and causes the image forming unit 20 to record the above-described test image on the recording medium M (step S121). The control unit 60 reads the test image recorded by the image reading unit 30 (step S122).

  The controller 60 identifies the center position of each cross mark Tp (step S123; recording position specifying step). The controller 60 calculates a reference position for each group (step S124; reference position calculation step), and calculates a difference (shift amount) between the center position of each cross mark Tp and the reference position (step S125).

  The control unit 60 arranges difference values in the transport direction for each color and each image block, performs a smoothing process on the arrangement pattern, and applies a low-pass filter to cut noise components and high-frequency vibration components (step S126). . The control unit 60 sets a delay amount (shift amount) that cancels the difference value for each encoder pulse timing (rotation phase, the above-described relative phase) in association with the rotation phase (step S127; shift amount identification step). . The control unit 60 causes the storage unit 70 to store the correspondence relationship between all the rotation phases generated by the timing signal and the delay amount as the timing correction information 71 (step S128; adjustment amount setting step). As described above, since the correspondence relationship acquired from the test image is once per 100 encoder pulses, the correspondence relationship is determined by interpolation or fitting. Then, the control unit 60 ends the timing correction setting process.

As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the transport unit 10 that moves the recording medium M in the transport direction at a speed corresponding to the rotational movement speed of the rotation surface of the driven roller 11, and the predetermined rotation of the driven roller 11. The signal generator 15 that generates a timing signal for each phase change, and the nozzle 211 to a position different from each other in the transport direction toward the transport surface of the recording medium M by the transport unit 10 at an operation timing determined based on the timing signal. And a plurality of head units 21 that eject ink from the inkjet recording apparatus 1 having a control unit 60 that performs settings relating to adjustment of operation timing. From the read image of the recording medium M on which a plurality of cross marks Tp are formed, which are formed at each predetermined cycle (once every 100 times) of the timing signal by ejecting ink from the plurality of head units 21, a plurality of cross marks Tp are recorded. The recording positions of the cross mark Tp in the transport direction are specified (step S123). If the rotational movement speed of the driven roller 11 is constant, the control unit 60 sets the recording positions of the plurality of cross marks Tp formed at the same position in the transport direction by the plurality of head units 21 respectively. A reference position W0 that is weighted and averaged according to the positional relationship is calculated (step S124). The controller 60 identifies the amount of shift in the operation timing that cancels the difference between the recording positions of the plurality of cross marks Tp and the reference position W0 in association with the rotation phase (steps S125 and S127). The control unit 60 timings the operation timing for each rotation phase related to the generation timing of the timing signal (that is, including the rotation phase related to the generation timing of 99 encoder pulses out of 100 in which the cross mark Tp is not recorded). Settings relating to adjustment to move by a delay amount (deviation amount) according to the rotation phase from the signal generation timing are performed and stored in the storage unit 70 as timing correction information 71 (step S128).
When the transport roller (the driven roller 11 and the drive roller 13) to which the encoder of the signal generating unit 15 is attached is decentered and the generation interval of the encoder pulse does not indicate an accurate transport distance, the reading accuracy is also decentered. Therefore, it is not possible to simply read periodic changes due to eccentricity. Here, with respect to a plurality of colors, a simple average (that is, a plurality of triangles) is obtained by taking an average appropriately weighted according to the positional relationship between the signs (cross marks Tp) that should be recorded at the same position in the transport direction. Since the value is a composite value of the functions, the reference position W0 of the cyclic variation of the shift amount can be identified more appropriately than the simple average position is not the reference position of the shift amount unless a specific phase relationship is established. . In the information processing apparatus, an operation timing is determined by setting a delay amount with respect to the generation timing of the encoder pulse and shifting the delay amount so as to cancel out the difference value obtained based on the reference position W0. By causing the inkjet recording apparatus 1 to perform an image recording operation in accordance with this operation timing, ink lands on the recording medium at equal intervals, and a more stable and distortion-free image is obtained. Therefore, in this information processing apparatus, the ink ejection timing can be adjusted in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 so that a higher quality image can be stably output. That is, unlike the case where the reference position is obtained by simply averaging the positions of the cross marks Tp, or when the relative positional deviation amount due to the period variation is directly identified from the reading position in the conveyance direction of a specific color, the reading is different. Since the influence of such periodic fluctuations is also eliminated, the delay amount can be set more accurately.
In addition, setting the delay amount does not adjust the encoder pulse itself related to the original rotation detection, so that the ink ejection positions can be corrected at equal intervals with easy processing.

  Further, the weighting coefficient Kp for the recording positions of the plurality of cross marks Tp related to weighting is determined according to the value of the ratio of the distance in the transport direction between the plurality of head units 21 to the circumferential length LR of the driven roller 11. By this calculation, the reference position W0 can be accurately obtained for the cross mark Tp recorded by the plurality of head units 21 in a phase relationship with an arbitrary rotational phase as a reference, so that the difference value is accurately identified, The delay amount can be set so that an image from which the difference value (that is, distortion) is removed with high accuracy can be recorded.

  Further, the sum of the weighting coefficient Kp for the recording positions of the plurality of cross marks Tp related to weighting is 1. In this way, by normalizing in advance, the reference position W0 can be obtained simply by performing the weighted addition of the positions of the cross marks Tp of each set specified from the read image, so that the processing becomes easy.

  In addition, a nonvolatile storage unit 70 is provided that stores the rotational phase of the driven roller 11 and the shift amount (delay amount) related to the operation timing in association with each other as timing correction information 71. Therefore, once the timing correction information 71 is obtained, it is not necessary to reset the setting every time unless the change over time can be ignored or the transport unit 10 is replaced or readjusted. The recording apparatus 1 can stably and continuously record an image without distortion.

  Further, the signal generator 15 outputs a Z-phase signal indicating a reference phase (Z-phase) of the rotation phase. The control unit 60 uses the relative phase from the Z phase as the rotation phase. Thereby, since the control part 60 can identify easily which direction the rotation phase of the driven roller 11 is with respect to an eccentric direction, acquisition of the delay amount which concerns on adjustment of the operation timing according to a rotation phase is acquired. Becomes easier. That is, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 can record a high-quality image with low load and without distortion.

  Each of the plurality of head units 21 includes a plurality of recording heads 210 provided with a plurality of nozzles 211 that eject ink. Each cross mark Tp is recorded by a single recording head 210. Different recording heads 210 are often arranged at different positions in the transport direction, such as in a staggered pattern, and a slight difference is likely to occur in operating characteristics. Accordingly, when the cross mark Tp extending over the plurality of recording heads 210 is recorded, the accurate position is not reflected due to the influence of the eccentricity that differs depending on the position in the transport direction within the cross mark Tp. Therefore, in the head unit 21 that uses such a plurality of recording heads 210, here, in the line head, each cross mark Tp is recorded by a single recording head 210, and the same range in the width direction is the same. Thus, the difference value from the reference position W0 corresponding to the eccentricity can be obtained accurately.

Further, the ink jet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes the information processing apparatus (control unit 60) described above, the plurality of head units 21, and the driven roller 11, and the transport unit 10 that moves the recording medium M in the transport direction. And comprising. The head unit 21 performs an ink ejection operation at an operation timing shifted by a delay amount (deviation amount) corresponding to the rotation phase from the generation timing of the encoder pulse.
As described above, by correcting the timing of the ink ejection operation based on the delay amount set in accordance with the rotation phase as described above, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 can stably provide a high-quality image without distortion. Can be recorded.

  Further, the arrangement interval of the plurality of head units 21 in the transport direction is not an integral number of the peripheral length of the driven roller 11. As described above, if it is a fraction of an integer, especially ¼ or ½, there is no merit of weighted averaging in the first place. Thus, ink jet recording with a free size design that is not a fraction of an integer. In the device 1, the technique of the present disclosure is more effective.

The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 30 that is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the head unit 21 and reads the surface of the recording medium M that is transported in the transport direction.
The control unit 60 transports the recording medium M by the transport unit 10 and operates on the surface of the recording medium M at the operation timing (that is, at the rotational phase) synchronized with the generation timing of the encoder pulse by the head unit 21 (image forming unit 20). The cross mark Tp is recorded with a delay amount of zero or a fixed value regardless of this, and the recorded cross mark Tp is read by the image reading unit 30. The controller 60 specifies the rotational phase at the time of recording of the read cross mark Tp based on the encoder pulse (timing signal), and sets the deviation amount from the reference position W0 based on the rotational phase and the read image. Do.
As described above, in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 including the image reading unit 30, even if the read image is affected by the eccentricity of the driven roller 11, each cross mark Tp is appropriately excluded by removing the influence of the eccentricity. Since the difference value from the reference position W0 can be identified, it is possible to easily obtain the correspondence between the rotational phase and the delay amount in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 without requiring a special device or calculation. . The inkjet recording apparatus 1 can stably record a high-quality image without distortion by correcting the timing of the ink ejection operation based on this relationship.

In addition, the timing correction setting process according to the present embodiment includes a conveyance unit 10 that moves the recording medium M in the conveyance direction at a speed corresponding to the rotational movement speed of the rotation surface of the driven roller 11 and a predetermined rotation phase of the driven roller 11. The signal generator 15 that generates a timing signal for each change and the ink from the nozzle 211 to different positions in the transport direction toward the transport surface of the recording medium M by the transport unit 10 at an operation timing determined based on the timing signal. This is an image recording adjustment method for performing settings related to adjustment of operation timing in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 having a plurality of head units 21 that discharge ink. This timing correction setting process is performed by reading the recording medium M on which a plurality of cross marks Tp formed at each predetermined cycle of the timing signal (once every 100 encoder pulses) are ejected from the plurality of head units 21. A recording position specifying step (step S123) for specifying the recording positions in the transport direction of the plurality of cross marks Tp from the image. If the rotational movement speed is constant, the plurality of head units 21 form the same position in the transport direction. A reference position calculation step (step S124) for calculating a reference position W0 obtained by averaging the recording positions of the plurality of cross marks Tp to be weighted in accordance with the positional relationship of the plurality of head units 21, and a plurality of cross marks Tp. Of operation timing that cancels out the difference between the recording position and the reference position W0 A deviation amount identifying step (steps S125 and S127) for identifying (delay amount) in association with the rotation phase, and for each rotation phase related to the timing signal generation timing, the timing of the ink ejection operation is changed from the timing signal generation timing to the rotation phase. And an adjustment amount setting step (step S128) in which the setting relating to the adjustment to be moved by the amount of deviation (delay amount) according to is performed and stored in the storage unit 70.
By performing such timing correction setting processing, the deviation of the relationship between the encoder pulse (timing signal) and the transport position due to the eccentricity unevenness of the transport roller (the driven roller 11 and the drive roller 13) in the inkjet recording apparatus 1, that is, rotation By appropriately identifying the amount of deviation between the phase and the ink ejection position, it is possible to appropriately obtain the delay amount for adjusting the ink ejection position according to the rotational phase. Then, by causing the ink jet recording apparatus 1 to perform an image recording operation according to the operation timing corresponding to the delay amount, ink lands on the recording medium at equal intervals, and a more stable and distortion-free image is obtained. . Therefore, in this information processing apparatus, the ink ejection timing can be adjusted in the ink jet recording apparatus 1 so that a higher quality image can be stably output.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, in the above embodiment, the signal generation unit 15 (rotary encoder) is attached to the driven roller 11, but may be attached to the drive roller 13. In this case, a relationship with the conveyance speed reflecting the rotation angle (phase) of the driving roller 13 by the direct conveyance motor 14 is obtained. In this case, the driving roller 13 and the driven roller 11 may have different rotation radii.

  In the above embodiment, the case of using four colors of ink has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to four colors. In this case, since the number of points to be weighted increases, it is possible to perform weighting by arbitrarily selecting and fixing the point of color number −2.

  Further, the sum of the weighting factors P1 to P4 does not need to be 1, but in that case, it is eventually necessary to divide by the sum of the weighting factors P1 to P4 later.

  In the above embodiment, the correspondence between one rotation phase and the delay amount is obtained for the transport unit 10 (driven roller 11) and held as the timing correction information 71. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the eccentricity (direction and size) of the driven roller 11 is not uniform in the width direction, or when the plurality of driven rollers 11 are arranged in parallel in the width direction, each is divided into a plurality of ranges in the width direction. The timing correction information 71 can be set separately.

  Further, the mark for specifying the position is not limited to the cross mark Tp. A line segment that simply extends in the width direction may be used, or lines that extend in the width direction may be attached to both ends of the line segment. Alternatively, it may be an x mark or the like.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case of the image recording operation by the head unit 21 in which a plurality of recording heads 210 are combined has been described as an example, but the head unit 21 by the long single recording head 210 is described. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, the recording medium M is transported by the transport belt 12 spanned between the driven roller 11 and the drive roller 13, but an encoder (signal generation unit 15) is provided. As long as the recording medium M is transported at a transport speed corresponding to the rotational movement speed at a predetermined position on the surface of the roller (driven roller 11), the recording medium M may be placed on the transport belt 12 and not transported.

  The timing correction information 71 may be generated every time the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is started up and stored in the RAM 63 or the like, and may be deleted every time the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 is stopped.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 60 analyzes the image read by the image reading unit 30 in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 to generate the timing correction information 71. However, the image read by the image reading unit 30 and the timing information May be obtained by an external computer as an information processing apparatus to generate the timing correction information 71. The generated timing correction information 71 is sent from the computer to the control unit 60 of the inkjet recording apparatus 1.
In addition, specific details such as the specific configuration, processing contents, and procedures shown in the above embodiment can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 10 Conveyance part 11 Driven roller 12 Conveyor belt 13 Drive roller 14 Conveyance motor 15 Signal generation part 20 Image formation part 21, 21C, 21M, 21Y, 21K Head unit 210 Recording head 211 Nozzle 22 Head drive part 30 Image reading Unit 31 imaging drive unit 32 line sensor 40 fixing unit 50 medium detection unit 60 control unit 61 CPU
62 ROM
63 RAM
69 Bus 70 Storage unit 71 Timing correction information 72 Arrangement information 80 Communication unit 91 Display unit 92 Operation reception unit Tp Cross mark

Claims (10)

A transport unit that moves the recording medium in a first direction at a speed corresponding to the rotational movement speed of the rotating surface of the rotating roller, a signal generating unit that generates a timing signal for each change in the predetermined rotational phase of the rotating roller, and An inkjet having a plurality of recording operation units that eject ink from nozzles to different positions in the first direction toward the conveyance surface of the recording medium by the conveyance unit at an operation timing determined based on a timing signal A control unit configured to perform settings related to the adjustment of the operation timing in the recording apparatus;
The controller is
From the read image of the recording medium on which a plurality of unit pattern markers formed at predetermined intervals of the timing signal by ink ejection from the plurality of recording operation units are recorded, the plurality of unit pattern markers in the first direction Specify each recording position,
If the rotational movement speed is constant, the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers formed at the same position in the first direction by the plurality of recording operation units are respectively related to the positional relationship of the plurality of recording operation units. Calculate the average reference position weighted according to
Identifying the amount of shift in the operation timing that cancels the difference between the recording position of the plurality of unit pattern labels and the reference position in association with the rotation phase;
For each rotational phase related to the generation timing of the timing signal, a setting related to adjustment for moving the operation timing from the generation timing of the timing signal by the shift amount corresponding to the rotational phase is performed. .   The weighting coefficient for the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers relating to the weighting is determined according to the value of the ratio of the distance in the first direction between the plurality of recording operation units with respect to the circumference of the rotating roller. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a sum of weighting coefficients with respect to the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers relating to the weighting is 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores a rotation phase of the rotating roller and the shift amount related to the operation timing in association with each other. The signal generation unit outputs a reference timing signal indicating a reference phase of the rotation phase;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit uses a relative phase from the reference phase as the rotation phase.   The plurality of recording operation units each have a plurality of head modules provided with the plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink, and each of the unit pattern indicators is recorded by a single head module. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The plurality of recording operation units;
A transport unit that includes the rotating roller and moves the recording medium in the first direction;
With
The ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the recording operation unit performs an ink ejection operation at the operation timing shifted by the shift amount corresponding to the rotation phase from the generation timing.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of recording operation units have an arrangement interval in the first direction that is not an integral number of a peripheral length of the rotating roller. A reading unit provided on the downstream side in the first direction of the recording operation unit to read the surface of the recording medium conveyed in the first direction;
The controller is
While the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, the unit pattern mark is recorded on the surface of the recording medium at the operation timing synchronized with the generation timing by the recording operation unit,
Reading the recorded unit pattern mark by the reading unit,
The rotation phase at the time of recording of the read unit pattern mark is specified based on the timing signal,
The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the shift amount is set based on the rotation phase and the read image. A transport unit that moves the recording medium in a first direction at a speed corresponding to the rotational movement speed of the rotating surface of the rotating roller, a signal generating unit that generates a timing signal for each change in the predetermined rotational phase of the rotating roller, and An inkjet having a plurality of recording operation units that eject ink from nozzles to different positions in the first direction toward the conveyance surface of the recording medium by the conveyance unit at an operation timing determined based on a timing signal An image recording adjustment method for performing settings related to adjustment of the operation timing in a recording apparatus,
From the read image of the recording medium on which a plurality of unit pattern markers formed at predetermined intervals of the timing signal by ink ejection from the plurality of recording operation units are recorded, the plurality of unit pattern markers in the first direction A recording position specifying step for specifying each recording position;
If the rotational movement speed is constant, the recording positions of the plurality of unit pattern markers formed at the same position in the first direction by the plurality of recording operation units are respectively related to the positional relationship of the plurality of recording operation units. A reference position calculating step of calculating a reference position averaged by weighting according to
A deviation amount identifying step for identifying the movement timing deviation amount that cancels out the difference between the recording position and the reference position of the plurality of unit pattern labels in association with a rotation phase,
An adjustment amount setting step for performing a setting related to adjustment for moving the operation timing from the generation timing of the timing signal by the shift amount corresponding to the rotation phase for each rotation phase related to the generation timing of the timing signal;
An image recording adjustment method comprising:

Images