JP5250839B2 - Image recording apparatus, driving phase adjustment method in image recording apparatus, and position adjustment chart output method in image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, a driving phase adjustment method in the image recording apparatus, and a position adjustment chart output method in the image recording apparatus. Specifically, the position adjustment chart can be easily created, and the driving phase is within one pixel based thereon. The adjustment method of the image recording apparatus, the adjustment method of the driving phase in the image recording apparatus, and the output method of the position adjustment chart in the image recording apparatus.

  In an image recording apparatus that records an image by ejecting ink from nozzles, a plurality of heads each having a nozzle array are arranged in a staggered manner along the nozzle array direction, thereby forming a long nozzle array as a whole. Some have a head unit. Also, there is a head unit having a resolution improved by arranging a plurality of heads each having a nozzle row in parallel and performing recording complementarily by the plurality of nozzle rows.

  In an image recording apparatus having such a head unit having a plurality of nozzle rows, the position in the relative transport direction relative to the recording medium is set to a design value due to a mechanical arrangement error between the heads, an ejection speed error for each head, and the like. In contrast, when a high image quality is required because the image is displaced on the recording medium, a position adjustment chart for checking the amount of displacement for each nozzle row is output, and based on this, alignment (drive) for each nozzle row is output. Timing adjustment) must be performed (Patent Documents 1 to 3).

JP 2003-291326 A JP 2004-358759 A Japanese Patent No. 3591286

  Usually, in order to maximize the printing speed, the relative speed between the head and the recording medium is set so that the ejection period of the head becomes the highest drive frequency at which the head can eject. For this reason, there is no time margin for controlling a position finer than one pixel formed by ink droplets ejected from one nozzle. In order to control a position finer than one pixel, it is necessary to have a margin in the ejection cycle, and it is necessary to shift the phase in units of heads in the middle of one image, and this timing matches the timing of shifting the phase. It is necessary to prepare an adjustment image.

  Moreover, the control of the position finer than one pixel is not affected by the ink droplet ejection speed between the plurality of nozzle rows, the distance between the nozzle surface and the print surface, and the error in the mounting angle between the nozzle rows. It is desirable to do so.

  Further, in the method of performing position adjustment finer than one pixel by measurement or eye measurement using an adjustment image in units of one pixel, accurate position adjustment cannot be performed and a high-definition image cannot be recorded. Therefore, it is not a preferable method for recording an image that requires high image quality.

  On the other hand, in order to perform position adjustment finer than one pixel, there is a method of outputting a plurality of position adjustment charts divided into several times. FIGS. 11 to 16 show a position adjustment chart output method that requires a plurality of position adjustment charts.

  In FIG. 11, heads A and B each have a nozzle array composed of a plurality of nozzles na and nb, and the nozzle array directions of heads A and B are both orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction. The head units are arranged so that the nozzle pitches are the same in the width direction of the recording medium. Here, an example of outputting a position adjustment chart when the smallest drive cycle in the head is 100 μsec is shown, and the relative conveyance speed with respect to the recording medium is the same as that during image recording with normal input data. When printing is performed at the above drive cycle, the printing speed is set to 360 dpi (70.5 μm) (705 mm / sec). The drive phases of the heads A and B are the same phase.

  In this case, ink is ejected from the nozzles na of the head A at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of patterns in which the ejection timing is gradually shifted from the nozzles nb of the head B with respect to the head A are recorded. However, the ink ejected from each nozzle nb of the head B can arrange dots only at the drive cycle unit (360 dpi), that is, at the position of one pixel unit.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the position adjustment chart obtained by such a method. Thus, there is a shift between the line pattern a1 formed by the head A and the line pattern b1 formed by the head B. When the positional deviation amount between the nozzle rows of the heads A and B is acquired by selecting the connection that is closest to the straight line, if the positional deviation is smaller than one pixel, In the position adjustment chart, the connection between the line patterns a1 and b1 does not exist in a straight line, and appropriate adjustment cannot be performed.

  For this reason, in this case, it is necessary to separately record a position adjustment chart in which the driving phase of the head B is shifted by 0.5 pixels with respect to the driving phase of the head A as shown in FIG. FIG. 14 shows a position adjustment chart obtained by this, and according to this position adjustment chart, the line pattern b2 formed by the head B is shifted by 0.5 pixel from the line pattern b2 shown in FIG. To be recorded.

  Therefore, the user obtains a positional deviation amount in units of 0.5 pixels by comparing and observing the two separate position adjustment charts of the position adjustment chart shown in FIG. 12 and the position adjustment chart shown in FIG. There is a problem that extremely troublesome labor and time for outputting two position adjustment charts are required, and errors are likely to occur because two separate position adjustment charts are compared and observed.

  Further, FIG. 15 shows that the print heads A and B are arranged in parallel with each other along the direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction and along the recording medium conveyance direction. This is a case in which printing is performed, in which the odd-numbered and even-numbered pixels along the recording medium conveyance direction are printed alternately by different print heads A and B, thereby enabling printing at a speed twice that of the head performance. is there. In this case, since the driving phase of the head A and the driving phase of the head B are deviated from each other, each print head A and B prints every two pixels of the print resolution.

  In this case, the position adjustment chart records two line patterns by ejecting ink droplets continuously from each nozzle na of the head A according to the driving phase, and the ejection timing from each nozzle nb of the head B. One line pattern shifted in stages is recorded. Thus, as shown in FIG. 16, a plurality of sets of two line patterns a31 and a32 formed by the head A and one line pattern b3 formed by the head B are recorded, and the line pattern a31 is recorded. , A32 is selected as a suitable group in which the line pattern b3 is positioned. However, since the heads A and B can print only every two pixels, the heads A and B can be printed more than two pixels. When a small misalignment has occurred, as shown in the example of FIG. 16, it is not possible to select a suitable set with this position adjustment chart alone, and it is necessary to output a separate position adjustment chart.

  Such a problem is not limited to forming pixels by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles, but using a head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements forming pixels are arranged in a row. This is a problem common to image recording apparatuses that record an image by applying a recording material on a recording medium from an element.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image recording apparatus and an image recording device that can easily adjust the position between a plurality of recording element arrays in units smaller than the pixel unit at the time of normal recording without having to record an adjustment chart multiple times. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for adjusting a driving phase in an apparatus.

  In addition, the present invention can easily output a position adjustment chart that can adjust the position between a plurality of recording element arrays in units smaller than the pixel unit at the time of normal recording without having to record a plurality of adjustment charts. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for outputting a position adjustment chart in an image recording apparatus capable of performing the above.

  Other problems of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

  The above problems are solved by the following inventions.

The invention according to claim 1 includes a head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium are arranged in a line, and the head unit and the recording medium are connected to the recording element. By performing recording while staggering the drive timing of the recording elements between the plurality of recording element arrays while performing relative movement with respect to the array at a predetermined angle, the deviation amount for each recording element array differs. It comprises a chart recording means for recording a recording element row position adjustment chart consisting of a plurality of recording pattern sets, and among the plurality of recording pattern sets on the recording element row position adjustment chart obtained by the chart recording means, The drive phase for each recording element array is adjusted based on the recording position of each recording element array corresponding to the set of recording patterns with the least amount of deviation between the recording element arrays. A Unishi was image recording apparatus,
Drive control means capable of changing the drive phase of the recording element row unit in units of 1 / N of the recording element drive cycle (N is an integer of 2 or more);
While the chart recording means relatively moves the head unit and the recording medium, the drive control means determines the relative driving phase difference between the plurality of recording element arrays in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving cycle. Recording elements composed of a set of a plurality of recording patterns with different amounts of deviation between the recording element arrays by recording the recording element drive timings in stages while being changed in the recording element array. Record the column alignment chart,
The drive control unit corresponds to a set of recording patterns with the least amount of deviation between the recording element columns among the plurality of recording pattern sets on the recording element column position adjustment chart obtained by the chart recording unit. The image recording apparatus is characterized in that the drive phase for each recording element array is adjusted in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period based on the recording position of each recording element array.

According to a second aspect of the invention is intended for recording an image recording and the recording element sequence alignment chart by the head unit and the recording medium and once only the relative movement is to be on by Ri through normal input data The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the recording element rows are arranged along the relative movement direction of the head unit and the recording medium, and the recording element rows are arranged along the relative movement direction. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image recording apparatus performs complementary recording on a recording medium.

The invention according to claim 4 includes a head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium are arranged in a line, and the head unit and the recording medium are connected to the recording element array. A drive phase adjustment method for adjusting a drive phase of the recording element array unit of the head unit in an image recording apparatus that records an image by relatively moving at a predetermined angle with respect to
While relatively moving the head unit and the recording medium, the relative driving phase difference between the plurality of recording element arrays is changed in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period (N is an integer of 2 or more). However, by adjusting the recording element drive timing stepwise between the plurality of recording element arrays, the recording element array position adjustment composed of a plurality of recording pattern sets having different amounts of deviation between the recording element arrays Record charts,
Based on the recording position of each recording element sequence corresponding to the set of recording patterns with the smallest amount of deviation between the recording element sequences among the plurality of recording pattern sets on the obtained recording element sequence position adjustment chart The drive phase adjustment method in the image recording apparatus is characterized in that the drive phase for each print element array is adjusted in units of 1 / N of the print element drive cycle.

The invention according to claim 5 includes a head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium are arranged in a line, and the head unit and the recording medium are connected to the recording element array. A position adjustment chart for adjusting a drive phase of the recording unit array unit of the head unit in an image recording apparatus that records an image by relatively moving at a predetermined angle with respect to
While relatively moving the head unit and the recording medium, the relative driving phase difference between the plurality of recording element arrays is changed in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period (N is an integer of 2 or more). However, by adjusting the recording element drive timing stepwise between the plurality of recording element arrays, the recording element array position adjustment composed of a plurality of recording pattern sets having different amounts of deviation between the recording element arrays It is a method for outputting a position adjustment chart in an image recording apparatus characterized by recording a chart.

  According to the image recording apparatus and the adjustment method of the driving phase in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the position between the plurality of recording element arrays is smaller than the pixel unit at the time of normal recording without the need to record the adjustment chart multiple times. It can be easily adjusted in units.

  Further, according to the output method of the position adjustment chart in the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the position adjustment chart capable of adjusting the position between the plurality of recording element arrays in units smaller than the pixel unit at the time of normal recording is The adjustment chart can be easily output without having to record it.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. Configuration diagram showing details of drive controller The block diagram which shows the drive control part at the time of the image recording by normal input data in detail Configuration diagram showing the drive control unit in more detail when outputting the position adjustment chart Explanatory drawing explaining the output method of a position adjustment chart Position adjustment chart output by the method of FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the output method of the position adjustment chart which concerns on another arrangement | positioning aspect of a print head Position adjustment chart output by the method of FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the output method of the position adjustment chart which concerns on another arrangement | positioning aspect of a print head Explanatory drawing of other output method of position adjustment chart Explanatory drawing explaining the output method of the conventional position adjustment chart for every other pixel Position adjustment chart output by the method of FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the output method of the conventional position adjustment chart Position adjustment chart output by the method of FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the other output method of the conventional position adjustment chart Position adjustment chart output by the method of FIG.

  The present invention provides a plurality of recording element arrays when a head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a row and a recording medium are moved relative to the recording medium at a predetermined angle. While the relative driving phase difference between the recording elements is changed in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving cycle (N is an integer of 2 or more), the driving timing of the recording elements is stepwise between the plurality of recording element arrays. By recording in a shifted manner, a recording element row position adjustment chart composed of a set of a plurality of recording patterns having different amounts of deviation between the recording element rows is recorded.

  The movement between the head unit and the recording medium is only required to be relative. The head unit is fixed, the recording medium is moved along one direction with respect to the head unit, the recording medium is fixed, and the recording is performed. Either an aspect in which the head unit is moved in one direction relative to the medium or an aspect in which the head unit and the recording medium are moved together may be used.

  Among these, if only the recording medium is conveyed in one direction with respect to the stationary head unit, the relative movement between the head unit and the recording medium can be easily achieved by utilizing the recording medium conveying mechanism. Such relative movement is generally used for a single-pass type image recording apparatus. The single-pass type image recording apparatus performs image recording based on normal input data and recording of a recording element row position adjustment chart by relatively moving the head unit and the recording medium only once.

  As a mode of moving the head unit and the recording medium together, a scanning type in which a plurality of recording element arrays are arranged along the recording medium conveyance direction and performs image recording by reciprocating in the width direction of the recording medium. There is an image recording apparatus. Image recording on the recording medium is performed by cooperation between intermittent conveyance in one direction of the recording medium and reciprocation of the head unit in the width direction of the recording medium. In such a scan type image recording apparatus, since it is generally easy to change the print start phase for each scan, position adjustment finer than one pixel in one image can be performed by shifting the print phase for each scan. It is relatively easy. On the other hand, the single-pass type image recording apparatus is difficult to adjust the position finer than one pixel in one image, and therefore the single-pass type image recording apparatus is a particularly preferable aspect in the present invention.

  Note that the angle formed by the length direction of the recording element row and the conveyance direction of the recording medium during the relative movement between the head unit and the recording medium may be constant, but it is generally preferable that they be orthogonal.

  In the present invention, the change in the relative driving phase difference between the plurality of recording element arrays during recording of the recording element array position adjustment chart is in units of 1 / N (N is an integer of 2 or more) of the recording element driving period. However, by setting N to 2, 3, 4,..., The pixels recorded on the recording medium when recording the recording element row position adjustment chart are changed to 1 in units of pixels at the time of image recording with normal input data. Recording is possible in finer pixel units such as / 2, 1/3, and 1/4, and fine adjustment can be performed. The upper limit of N is not particularly limited, but is determined as appropriate according to the resolution limit of each head provided in the head unit.

  The image recording apparatus according to the present invention has drive control means that can change the drive phase difference in units of print element rows in units of 1 / N of the print element drive cycle (N is an integer of 2 or more). The change data in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period of the driving phase difference in units of recording elements can be set in advance in the drive control unit. The change data is stored in a plurality such as N = 2, 3, 4, etc., and any one of the data (for example, N = 2) can be read and set, and if necessary, For example, the setting value of N can be changed to another stored value (for example, N = 3) by a user setting operation or automatic control.

  In the present invention, when recording the recording element row position adjustment chart, the relative drive phase difference between the plurality of printing element rows is calculated in units of 1 / N of the printing element driving cycle while relatively moving the head unit and the printing medium. The recording element row position formed of a set of a plurality of recording patterns having different amounts of deviation between the recording element rows by changing the recording element drive timing stepwise between the plurality of recording element rows while changing An adjustment chart is recorded.

  As a result, the drive phase changes by 1 / N in the process of creating one recording element row position adjustment chart, so that printing can be performed at a pixel unit position of 1 / N in the normal state. Therefore, by performing recording once by moving the head unit and the recording medium relative to each other only once, a recording element having a pixel unit smaller by 1 / N than a pixel unit at the time of image recording by normal input data. The column position adjustment chart can be easily created, and there is no need to repeat recording and output a plurality of times.

  In the present invention, one pixel is a unit formed by one recording material droplet applied on a recording medium from one recording element.

  In the present invention, the driving of the recording element is to form one pixel by applying one recording material droplet from the recording element to the recording medium.

  When recording is performed by staggering the recording element drive timing among a plurality of recording element sequences, one of the plurality of recording element sequences is used as a reference column, and each recording element of the reference sequence is It is preferable that the drive timing is a fixed timing. As a result, the drive timing of each printing element in the other printing element row is shifted stepwise with respect to the driving timing of each printing element in this reference row while changing in units of 1 / N of the printing element drive cycle. Thus, it becomes easy to record a set of a plurality of recording patterns having different amounts of shift between the recording element arrays.

  The drive phase adjustment in the image recording apparatus uses the recording element row position adjustment chart created in this way, and from among the plurality of recording patterns recorded on the recording element row position adjustment chart, By selecting a set of recording patterns with the least amount of deviation between the patterns, the drive control means drives the driving phase for each recording element array based on the recording position of each recording element array corresponding to the recording pattern set. Is adjusted in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving cycle.

  Here, adjusting the drive phase for each printing element row in units of 1 / N of the printing element driving cycle means that the recording element row is set in units of 1 / N as the interval time (unit μsec) during which the printing element can be driven. The drive phase is adjusted every time. The adjustment of the drive phase is preferably to adjust the drive phase of another recording element array with respect to the reference array.

  The recording element driving cycle can be a desired cycle, but is generally set to the minimum cycle in which the recording element can be driven.

  In selecting the recording pattern set with the smallest deviation and adjusting the drive phase, the user visually confirms each recording pattern set on the recording element row position adjustment chart, and inputs the corresponding input operation to each recording element. It can be performed by executing the drive control unit to be driven, or can be automatically performed by performing image processing on data obtained by scanning the recording element row position adjustment chart.

  The recording element may be any element as long as it can record an image by forming a pixel by applying a recording material droplet onto the recording medium by moving relative to the recording medium. It is a nozzle of a print head that records various images by using (ink), ejecting it as droplets onto a recording medium, and landing. The image recording apparatus provided with such a print head is used for industrial applications such as drawing of a normal pattern such as a photograph, a character, a pattern, etc., for example, drawing a wiring pattern of a semiconductor substrate or a pixel pattern of a color filter in a liquid crystal display device. Also widely used.

  The number of recording element rows configured by arranging such recording elements in a row may be a plurality of rows, that is, two or more rows. For example, in the case of a print head, such a printing element row is configured as a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged along one direction. In the present invention, such a nozzle row is provided in a single print head, and a head unit having a plurality of nozzle rows is configured by arranging a plurality of print heads in parallel. Alternatively, a plurality of the print heads may be arranged in parallel, and one or two or more of such print heads may be arranged in parallel to constitute a head unit. In either case, the present invention can be applied when adjusting the position between the plurality of nozzle rows.

  In the present invention, the arrangement mode of the plurality of recording element arrays is arranged along the arrangement direction of the recording element arrays, and the arrangement pitch of each recording element is arranged at an equal pitch between the plurality of recording element arrays. Or a plurality of rows arranged in parallel along the direction of relative movement with respect to the recording medium, so that recording can be performed complementarily by each of the recording element rows along the direction of relative movement on the recording medium. The arrangement may be performed, and various arrangement modes that require position adjustment between the plurality of recording element arrays can be employed.

  Note that “complementary recording” means that recording is performed such that the pixels recorded by the other recording element arrays fill the space along the relative movement direction with the recording medium recorded by one recording element array. That means.

  The recording pattern of the recording element column position adjustment chart can be recorded as a line pattern using all the recording elements constituting the recording element column. However, the recording is not necessarily performed by using all the recording elements constituting one recording element row. For example, recording may be performed using only half of the recording elements constituting one recording element row.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below using an example of an image recording apparatus that records (prints) an image by ejecting ink droplets from each nozzle of a print head.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a head unit, and the head unit 1 includes a plurality (here, two) of print heads 10A and 10B. The ink tank 11 supplies ink to the print heads 10A and 10B, and the drive control unit 12 controls the drive of the print heads 10A and 10B. Here, it is assumed that each of the print heads 10A and 10B has one nozzle row in which nozzles (not shown) as a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a row. Reference numeral 13 denotes a rotary encoder that detects the conveyance position of the recording medium.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a recording medium conveyance unit. The recording medium conveyance unit 2 has a recording medium 20 such as paper, a plastic sheet, or a fabric wound around a roll 21. The recording medium 20 wound around the roll 21 is wound around a take-up roll 22 that is rotated by driving of the transport motor 23 via a plurality of rollers 24a to 24e, thereby causing a predetermined direction in the direction of the arrow in the figure. It is transported at a constant speed. The surface of the recording medium 20 is a flat surface between the rollers 24d and 24e, and is arranged so that the nozzle surfaces of the print heads 10A and 10B of the head unit 1 face each other with a predetermined distance on the surface side. ing.

  The print heads 10A and 10B have their nozzle row directions orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 20 and parallel to each other, so that the nozzle pitch is the same between the print heads 10A and 10B. Are arranged so as to be shifted from each other in the nozzle row direction, and by moving the recording medium 20 relative to the head unit 1 only once, the recording width by the nozzle row of the print head 10A and the print head 10B are set. An image corresponding to the input data is recorded on the recording medium 20 with a recording width that is the sum of the recording widths of the nozzle rows.

  A PC (personal computer) 3 is connected to the drive control unit 12 of the head unit 1 via a signal cable, and transmits a control signal to the drive control unit 12.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating details of the drive control unit 12, and the drive control unit 12 includes a drive cycle creation unit 121, a phase control unit 122, and an overall control unit 123. Reference numeral 14 denotes a trigger mark detection sensor for detecting a trigger mark on the recording medium 20 that is a reference for starting driving, and outputs a detection signal to the phase control unit 122 when the trigger mark is detected.

  Based on the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 13 that detects the position of the recording medium 20, the drive cycle creation unit 121 performs processing such as frequency division and multiplication on the pulse signal to thereby obtain a desired print resolution. A drive cycle signal (normal printing cycle signal) is generated and output to the phase controller 122.

  The phase control unit 122 controls the drive phase of the nozzle arrays of the print heads 10A and 10B based on the drive cycle signal transmitted from the drive cycle creation unit 121. This drive phase can be individually set and changed in units of 1 / N of the drive cycle (N is an integer of 2 or more) during printing of one image for each nozzle array of the print heads 10A and 10B. Based on the input data, a drive timing signal according to the drive phase is generated, each nozzle of each print head 10A, 10B is selectively driven, and ink is directed toward the recording medium 20 conveyed at a predetermined speed. A desired image printing or position adjustment chart is recorded by discharging.

  The phase control unit 122 corresponds to each of the print heads 10A and 10B, and includes normal print phase creation units 1221A and 1221B that create a phase at the time of image printing using normal input data, and a phase at the time of output of a position adjustment chart described later. Adjustment chart phase creation units 1222A and 1222B for creating the phase adjustment period setting units 1223A and 1223B for setting the period for shifting the drive phase when the position adjustment chart is output.

  FIG. 3 shows a main part of the drive control unit 12 at the time of image printing with normal input data.

  When printing an image with normal input data, the output from the phase controller 122 is controlled by the overall controller 123 so that the normal print phase generators 1221A and 1221B corresponding to the print heads 10A and 10B are output. Here, switching is performed at 1224, and here, the drive cycle generator 121 generates a drive cycle of 100 μsec (360 dpi) generated by dividing the pulse signal of 50 μsec (720 dpi) from the rotary encoder 13 by two. In response to the signal, the normal print phase creation units 1221A and 1221B of the phase control unit 122 create drive phases of the nozzle arrays of the print heads 10A and 10B, and output drive timing signals to the print heads 10A and 10B, respectively.

  The drive timing signal reflects a value input from the PC 3 by the user or the like based on a result selected by a position adjustment chart to be described later, and is in units of nozzle rows of the print heads 10A and 10B and in units of 1 / N of the drive cycle. The drive phase is changed. Here, at the time of image printing with normal input data, the recording medium 20 is printed at 360 dpi, and the values input from the PC 3 by the user or the like are reflected, so that the driving phase of each other is set to a half pixel (50 μsec, 720 dpi) shows a shifted state.

  When the drive phase is shifted in this way, one of the plurality of nozzle rows is treated as a reference row, and the other nozzle rows are shifted in pixels with respect to the reference row.

  Next, a method for outputting the position adjustment chart in the image recording apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows a main part of the drive control unit 12 when outputting the position adjustment chart.

  When the position adjustment chart is output, the drive cycle creation unit 121 creates a drive cycle signal of 100 μsec (360 dpi) by similarly dividing the 50 μsec (720 dpi) pulse signal from the rotary encoder 13 by two. Output to the control unit 122. In the phase control unit 122, the drive phase of the nozzle array of each print head 10A, 10B is created by the drive cycle signal of 100 μsec (360 dpi) transmitted from the drive cycle creation unit 121, and each print is performed by the adjustment chart phase modes 1222A, 1222B. A drive timing signal is output to each of the heads 10A and 10B.

  The period of the driving phase at this time is the nozzle row of any one print head as a reference row, and the shift amount of the driving phase of the nozzle row of the print head on the side shifted in timing with respect to this reference row is one In the middle of recording the position adjustment chart, it is set so as to be shifted by 1 / N unit of the driving cycle. The period of the drive phase to be shifted is set by the phase change period setting units 1223A and 1223B, sent to the adjustment chart phase creating units 1222A and 1222B, and output to each of the heads 10A and 10B by switching control of the output switching unit 1224.

  In the present invention, the reference row can be any of a plurality of nozzle rows, but in the following description, the nozzle row of the print head 10A is taken as the reference row, and the print head 10B side with respect to the nozzle row of the print head 10A. The nozzle row drive phase is shifted in units of 1 / N of the drive cycle in the middle of recording one position adjustment chart, and this is repeated based on the phase change cycle set by the phase change cycle setting unit 1223B. ing.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the output method of the position adjustment chart, and FIG. 6 shows the position adjustment chart output by the output method.

  The print heads 10A and 10B are positioned along the recording medium conveyance direction so that the nozzle rows are perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction, and the nozzles 101a and 101b have the same pitch between the print heads 10A and 10B. Are displaced from each other.

  Here, in this image recording apparatus, the minimum driving cycle in each of the print heads 10A and 10B is 100 μsec, and the relative movement speed with respect to the recording medium 20 is printed at the above driving cycle at the time of image recording based on normal input data. In this case, the printing speed is set to 360 dpi (70.5 μm) (705 mm / sec), and each nozzle is controlled based on the input data for the position adjustment chart while moving the head unit 1 and the recording medium 20 relative to each other. A position adjustment chart composed of a plurality of line patterns is recorded by ejecting ink droplets from 101a and 101b.

  In the present invention, in the course of recording this one position adjustment chart, the relative driving phase difference between the nozzle arrays of the print heads 10A and 10B is changed to the line pattern A1 recorded by the nozzle array of the print head 10A. For each set P1, P2,... With the line pattern B1 recorded by the nozzle row of the print head 10B corresponding thereto, it is changed in units of 1 / N of the driving cycle.

  Here, the drive phase of the nozzle array of the print head 10A is set to a constant interval of 100 μsec as usual, and the drive phase of the nozzle array of the print head 10B is set to the drive cycle of each set P1, P2,. It is changed by 50 μsec which is 1/2 (when N = 2). Therefore, the interval between each set P1, P2,... Is 150 μsec, and only 50 μsec and the line pattern set in which the drive phases of the nozzle rows of the print heads 10A and 10B are recorded in the same phase. A set of line patterns recorded at a shifted phase appears alternately at a predetermined period.

  Therefore, from the nozzle row of the print head 10B, by changing the drive phase by ½ during the creation of one position adjustment chart image, printing is performed at a position of 0.5 pixel unit, which is ½ of the normal time. Thus, it is possible to easily create a position adjustment chart in units of 0.5 pixels with one output. For this reason, it is not necessary to repeat the output a plurality of times in order to perform position adjustment finer than one pixel (pixel unit at the time of image recording with normal input data), and it is output once even when the user confirms Since it is only necessary to check the position adjustment chart, it is possible to reduce the possibility of an error occurring when the user checks.

  Next, a method of adjusting the drive phase of each print head 10A, 10B using such a position adjustment chart will be described.

  The user observes the output position adjustment chart, and from among a plurality of line patterns A1, B1 sets P1, P2,... The line patterns A1, B1, which are closest to the line pattern A1 and B1, and the line patterns A1, B1 are closest to each other are selected. In FIG. 6, the connection with the line pattern B1 printed with a shift of +0.5 pixels with respect to the line pattern A1 of the print head 10A is closest to one straight line. The drive phase of the print head 10B is 0.5 pixels (50 μsec) later than the drive phase of the print head 10A, or the drive phase of the print head 10A is 0.5 than the drive phase of the print head 10B. It can be seen that adjustment should be made so as to be faster by the number of pixels.

  This adjustment of the drive phase may be performed by, for example, the user himself / herself operating the PC 3 to input a positional deviation adjustment amount for 0.5 pixels, or the output position adjustment chart may be connected to the scanner connected to the PC 3. (Not shown), and a pair of line patterns A1 and B1 having the smallest deviation and the connection closest to one straight line is automatically selected by image processing, and 0.0 corresponding to the pair is automatically selected. You may make it set automatically the positional offset adjustment amount for 5 pixels. Even in the latter case, since only one position adjustment chart needs to be read, the operation of the user can be simplified and the development load of software for automatic reading adjustment control can be reduced.

  The misregistration adjustment amount captured by the PC 3 is an adjustment amount for adjusting the drive phase of the print head 10A or 10B so that it is faster or slower in units of 0.5 pixels that is ½ of the drive cycle. The control unit 123 sends the phase control unit 122 in the drive control unit 12 to rewrite the setting data related to the drive phase of the normal print phase creation units 1221A and 1221B. Thereafter, the drive phases of the print heads 10A and 10B controlled by the phase control unit 122 are output with a shift of 0.5 pixels.

  When recording an image using normal input data, the nozzles 101a and 101b of the print heads 10A and 10B are selectively driven in accordance with the input data to eject ink droplets toward the recording medium 20 to obtain a desired value. Record an image. At this time, the print heads 10A and 10B can perform high-quality image recording because the positional deviation between the nozzle rows is adjusted to be finer than one pixel.

  FIG. 7 shows that the print heads 10 </ b> A and 10 </ b> B are arranged side by side along the direction in which each nozzle row is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 20 and along the conveyance direction of the recording medium 20. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method for outputting a position adjustment chart according to an arrangement mode configured to perform printing at a speed twice the performance of the head by performing complementary recording with each nozzle row along the movement direction; Shows a position adjustment chart output by the output method.

  Here, similarly to the above, the driving phase of the nozzle row of the print head 10A is set to a constant interval of 100 μsec as usual, and the driving phase of the nozzle row of the print head 10B is set for each set P1, P2,. This shows a case where the drive cycle is changed by 50 μsec, which is ½ of the drive cycle (when N = 2), and a plurality of line patterns A21, A22 and B2 in which the ejection timing is shifted stepwise between the nozzle rows. FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 were able to print only every two pixels of the print resolution (pixel unit at the time of image recording by normal input data) by recording the position adjustment chart consisting of the set P1, P2. It can be seen that a position adjustment chart in units of one pixel, which is twice the resolution of the conventional method shown, can be obtained by one output.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the print heads 10A and 10B juxtaposed along the conveyance direction of the recording medium 20 have the nozzle pitches of the nozzles 101a of one print head 10A and the nozzles 101b of the other print head 10B. Even if the nozzle pitch is arranged so that the nozzle pitch is shifted by a half pitch, the same applies. The print heads 10A and 10B record dots at a resolution (720 dpi) that is double the resolution (360 dpi) of the print head alone by recording the dots at the other print head 10B between the dots at the one print head 10A. Is. Accordingly, the landing positions of the ink droplets by the print head 10A and the ink droplets by the print head 10B need to be adjusted so as to be the same position in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  Again, the drive phase of the nozzle array of the print head 10A is set to a constant interval of 100 μsec as usual, and the drive phase of the nozzle array of the print head 10B is set to the drive cycle of each set P1, P2,. By changing the recording by 50 μsec, which is 1/2 (when N = 2), recording is performed in units of 0.5 pixel (1440 dpi) smaller than one pixel (pixel unit at the time of image recording with normal input data). A position adjustment chart capable of position adjustment can be obtained by one output.

  The above is the case where the drive phase difference is changed in units of 1/2 of the drive cycle (N = 2). The drive phase difference to be changed is 1 or 3 of the drive cycle, N being 3 or more. When the positional deviation is adjusted, the drive phase for each nozzle row may be set in units of 1 / N of the drive cycle, and the printable resolution can be further increased. The upper limit of N is appropriately determined according to the limit of the resolution of the print head.

  In the above description, only the drive phase of the nozzle row of the print head 10B is changed with respect to the drive phase of the nozzle row of the print head 10A. However, there is a relative drive phase difference between the plurality of nozzle rows. For example, in the case of two nozzle rows, the drive phases of both nozzle rows may be changed together.

  Further, as described above, in the method of changing the drive phase of the print head 10B with respect to the print head 10A (reference head), an image shift occurs due to the phase shift between the print heads 10A and 10B. It is also preferable that the drive pulses are periodically extracted as in the portion of the pulse Pa shown in Fig. 5 to make the print pixels 10A and 10B have the same number of print pixels.

  In general, if there are errors in the ejection speed of ink droplets between a plurality of nozzle rows, the distance between the nozzle surface and the printing surface (recording medium surface), and the mounting angle error between nozzle rows, the transport speed of the recording medium is reduced. Although the landing positions differ depending on the difference, according to the present invention, the relative adjustment speed between the head unit and the recording medium can be output at the same speed as when recording an image with normal input data. Therefore, an appropriate position adjustment chart can be output without being affected by such a speed difference or angle error, and accurate adjustment can be performed.

1: Head unit 10A, 10B: Print head 11: Ink tank 12: Drive control unit 121: Drive cycle creation unit 122: Phase control unit
1221A, 1221B: Normal printing phase creation unit
1222A, 1222B: Adjustment chart phase creation unit
1223A, 1223B: Phase change cycle setting unit
1224: Output switching unit 123: Overall control unit 13: Rotary encoder 14: Trigger mark detection sensor 2: Recording medium transport unit 20: Recording medium 21: Roll 22: Winding roll 23: Transport motors 24a to 24e: Roller 3: PC (Personal computer)
A1, A2, A21, A22, B1, B2, B3: Line pattern

Claims (5)

A head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements that perform recording on the recording medium are arranged in a row, and the head unit and the recording medium form a predetermined angle with respect to the recording element array The recording element drive timing is shifted stepwise between the plurality of recording element arrays while performing relative movement, thereby forming a set of a plurality of recording patterns having different displacement amounts for each recording element array. A chart recording means for recording a recording element row position adjustment chart, and a deviation amount between the recording element rows in a set of a plurality of recording patterns on the recording element row position adjustment chart obtained by the chart recording means An image recording apparatus that adjusts the drive phase for each recording element array based on the recording position of each recording element array corresponding to a set of recording patterns with the least number of recording patterns There,
Drive control means capable of changing the drive phase of the recording element row unit in units of 1 / N of the recording element drive cycle (N is an integer of 2 or more);
While the chart recording means relatively moves the head unit and the recording medium, the drive control means determines the relative driving phase difference between the plurality of recording element arrays in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving cycle. Recording elements composed of a set of a plurality of recording patterns with different amounts of deviation between the recording element arrays by recording the recording element drive timings in stages while being changed in the recording element array. Record the column alignment chart,
The drive control unit corresponds to a set of recording patterns with the least amount of deviation between the recording element columns among the plurality of recording pattern sets on the recording element column position adjustment chart obtained by the chart recording unit. An image recording apparatus comprising: adjusting a driving phase for each recording element array in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period based on a recording position of each recording element array. Claim 1, characterized in that for recording an image and recording of the printing element array position adjustment chart by the input data by Ri through normal to be relatively moved only once and the recording medium and the head unit The image recording apparatus described. The plurality of recording element rows are arranged in a plurality of rows along the relative movement direction of the head unit and the recording medium, and are complementarily recorded on the recording medium by each recording element row along the relative movement direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image recording apparatus performs the above. A head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements that perform recording on the recording medium are arranged in a line, the head unit and the recording medium being formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the recording element array A drive phase adjustment method for adjusting a drive phase of the recording unit array unit of the head unit in an image recording apparatus that records an image by relative movement,
While relatively moving the head unit and the recording medium, the relative driving phase difference between the plurality of recording element arrays is changed in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period (N is an integer of 2 or more). However, by adjusting the recording element drive timing stepwise between the plurality of recording element arrays, the recording element array position adjustment composed of a plurality of recording pattern sets having different amounts of deviation between the recording element arrays Record charts,
Based on the recording position of each recording element sequence corresponding to the set of recording patterns with the smallest amount of deviation between the recording element sequences among the plurality of recording pattern sets on the obtained recording element sequence position adjustment chart A method for adjusting a driving phase in an image recording apparatus, wherein the driving phase for each recording element array is adjusted in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period. A head unit having a plurality of recording element arrays in which a plurality of recording elements that perform recording on the recording medium are arranged in a line, the head unit and the recording medium being formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the recording element array A method of outputting a position adjustment chart for adjusting a drive phase of the recording unit array unit of the head unit in an image recording apparatus that records an image by relative movement,
While relatively moving the head unit and the recording medium, the relative driving phase difference between the plurality of recording element arrays is changed in units of 1 / N of the recording element driving period (N is an integer of 2 or more). However, by adjusting the recording element drive timing stepwise between the plurality of recording element arrays, the recording element array position adjustment composed of a plurality of recording pattern sets having different amounts of deviation between the recording element arrays A method for outputting a position adjustment chart in an image recording apparatus, wherein the chart is recorded.

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