JP5297144B2 - Printing apparatus, test pattern printing method, test pattern printing program, and test pattern data - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a region required for printing a test pattern and to detect with high accuracy an ejection port with the occurrence of ejection abnormality. <P>SOLUTION: In the test pattern 8 printed by an ink-jet printer, a plurality of linear pattern elements 811a-811d in respective unit test patterns 81a-81d are arranged along the arranged direction of ejection ports to reduce the region required for printing the test pattern 8 on a printing medium 9. Further, the scanning direction length of each of the plurality of pattern elements 811a-811d is made different from that of the adjacent pattern element. Consequently, even if the order of arrangement in the arranged direction of the pattern elements is replaced and one pattern element is drawn in a position where the other pattern element is to be drawn, the pattern element with the occurrence of position abnormality can be specified with high accuracy. As a result, the ejection port with the occurrence of ejection abnormality can be detected with high accuracy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for printing a test pattern on a printing medium by an inkjet method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, inkjet printing apparatuses that perform printing on a print medium by scanning a discharge mechanism in which a large number of nozzles that discharge minute droplets of ink are arranged relative to the print medium have been used. Yes. In such a printing apparatus, if the ejection direction of the ink from the nozzle changes even slightly, the position where the minute droplets of the ink ejected from the nozzle are applied on the print medium shifts, and the print quality deteriorates. End up. In addition, when the viscosity of the ink increases near the nozzle outlet, etc., the ink ejection is hindered. Arise.

  Therefore, in an ink jet printing apparatus, a test pattern is printed on a print medium to detect nozzle ejection abnormalities in the ejection mechanism. For example, in the printing apparatus of Patent Document 1, the print head is moved by sequentially selecting and driving one print element among a plurality of print elements arranged on the print head while moving the print head with respect to the print paper. A test pattern extending approximately along the moving direction is printed on the printing paper. In the test pattern, a plurality of linear pattern elements respectively corresponding to the plurality of print elements are arranged approximately along the moving direction while shifting in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the print head.

Further, in the ink jet printer of Patent Document 2, a large number of nozzles arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction are grouped for each predetermined number of nozzles along the arrangement direction, and each group is moved while moving the printing paper vertically in the arrangement direction. By sequentially selecting and driving one nozzle, a plurality of patterns each extending in the moving direction of the printing paper and arranged in the nozzle arrangement direction are printed on the printing paper. In the inkjet printer of Patent Document 2, a pattern in which a positional deviation occurs among a plurality of pattern elements constituting a pattern by printing a separator line in the upper and lower separator regions of the test pattern region where the plurality of patterns are printed. The position of the nozzle corresponding to the element or the pattern element where printing has not been performed (that is, the nozzle in which the ejection abnormality has occurred) can be easily identified visually.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-261078 JP 2005-246649 A

  By the way, recent inkjet printing apparatuses are provided with a large number of ejection openings for ejecting ink. When the method of Patent Document 1 is applied to such a printing apparatus, a printing area required for printing a test pattern is very large. It will be long. On the other hand, in the method of Patent Document 2, a plurality of pattern elements respectively corresponding to a plurality of nozzles are arranged along the nozzle arrangement direction and simultaneously printed to print a print area (that is, a test pattern area required for printing a test pattern). ) Can be reduced.

  However, if the pitch in the arrangement direction of the plurality of pattern elements is set to be small in the test pattern of Patent Document 2, the position of two adjacent pattern elements is switched when a positional deviation of the pattern elements occurs due to ejection abnormality. Therefore, it may be difficult to identify the nozzle in which the ejection abnormality has occurred. Therefore, since the pitch in the arrangement direction of the plurality of pattern elements cannot be made too small, the number of pattern elements that can be printed simultaneously is reduced, and there is a limit to the reduction of the test pattern area.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an object to reduce an area required for printing a test pattern and to accurately detect an ejection port in which ejection abnormality has occurred.

The invention according to claim 1 is an ink jet printing apparatus, wherein a discharge mechanism that discharges micro droplets of ink from a plurality of discharge ports, and a print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in a scanning direction. A scanning mechanism that moves, and a printing control unit that performs printing on the print medium by controlling the ejection mechanism and the scanning mechanism, wherein the plurality of ejection ports in the ejection mechanism are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Are arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch, and at the time of inspection of discharge abnormality at the plurality of discharge ports, a) the print medium is moved relative to the discharge mechanism in the scanning direction under the control of the print control unit. However, a minute droplet of ink is ejected from each ejection port of the ejection port group that exists at a separation ejection pitch more than twice the ejection pitch among the plurality of ejection ports, and is flattened in the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction and each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element by drawing a simple linear pattern element on the print medium And b) a plurality of lines arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch to another discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch. A step of printing a test pattern having a unit test pattern on the printing medium is performed, and the pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements arranged continuously in the arrangement direction, The lengths of the pattern elements in each group gradually decrease in the arrangement direction, and the printing medium is formed by each ejection port group of the plurality of ejection ports. Two unit test patterns are drawn above, and in one unit test pattern of the two unit test patterns, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from one to the other in the arrangement direction, In the other unit test pattern, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from the other in the arrangement direction toward the one .

According to a second aspect of the invention, a printing apparatus according to claim 1, in said each group, one end of the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements are inclined with respect to the scanning direction The other end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is positioned on another straight line that is inclined with respect to the scanning direction.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet printing apparatus, wherein a discharge mechanism that discharges micro droplets of ink from a plurality of discharge ports, and a print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in a scanning direction. A scanning mechanism that moves, and a printing control unit that performs printing on the print medium by controlling the ejection mechanism and the scanning mechanism, wherein the plurality of ejection ports in the ejection mechanism are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Are arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch, and at the time of inspection of discharge abnormality at the plurality of discharge ports, a) the print medium is moved relative to the discharge mechanism in the scanning direction under the control of the print control unit. However, a minute droplet of ink is ejected from each ejection port of the ejection port group that exists at a separation ejection pitch more than twice the ejection pitch among the plurality of ejection ports, and is flattened in the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction and each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element by drawing a simple linear pattern element on the print medium And b) a plurality of lines arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch to another discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch. A step of printing a test pattern having a unit test pattern on the printing medium is performed, and the pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements arranged continuously in the arrangement direction, The lengths of the pattern elements in each group gradually decrease in the arrangement direction, and the three or more patterns in each group One end of the scanning direction of the element is positioned on a straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction, and the other end of the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is inclined with respect to the scanning direction. Located on a straight line.

Invention of Claim 4 is a printing apparatus in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 , Comprising: The said discharge mechanism is provided with the several unit head which can be maintained separately, The said in each said group The discharge ports corresponding to three or more pattern elements are discharge ports provided in the same unit head.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the imaging unit captures the test pattern on the printing medium, and the captured image acquired by the imaging unit. And an abnormality detecting unit for detecting an abnormal position of each pattern element in the arrangement direction.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein printing on the print medium is completed by one relative movement of the print medium with respect to the ejection mechanism.

The invention according to claim 7 is an ink jet system that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in a scanning direction while discharging fine droplets of ink from a plurality of discharge ports of the discharge mechanism. In the printing apparatus, a test pattern printing method for printing a test pattern on a print medium at the time of ejection abnormality inspection, wherein a) the print medium is moved relative to the ejection mechanism in the scan direction, and the scan direction is Minute droplets of ink from each of the plurality of discharge ports arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the discharge port, the discharge ports of the discharge port group existing at a separation discharge pitch that is at least twice the discharge pitch And a plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction and each pattern element is drawn by drawing a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern having a length different from that of an adjacent pattern element on the print medium; b) changing the discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch to another discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch. And a step of repeating the step a) to print a test pattern having a plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction on the print medium , wherein the pattern elements of the unit test patterns are arranged in the array. The pattern elements are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the direction, and the lengths of the pattern elements in each group gradually decrease in the arrangement direction, and the discharge port groups of the plurality of discharge ports Two unit test patterns are drawn on the print medium, and one of the two unit test patterns includes a group test pattern. The length of the pattern element gradually decreases from one to the other in the arrangement direction, and in the other unit test pattern, the length of the pattern element in each group goes from the other in the arrangement direction to the one. Decrease gradually .
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, an ink jet system that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in a scanning direction while discharging fine droplets of ink from a plurality of discharge ports of the discharge mechanism. In the printing apparatus, a test pattern printing method for printing a test pattern on a print medium at the time of ejection abnormality inspection, wherein a) the print medium is moved relative to the ejection mechanism in the scan direction, and the scan direction is Minute droplets of ink from each of the plurality of discharge ports arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the discharge port, the discharge ports of the discharge port group existing at a separation discharge pitch that is at least twice the discharge pitch And a plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction and each pattern element is drawn by drawing a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern having a length different from that of an adjacent pattern element on the print medium; b) changing the discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch to another discharge port group existing at the separated discharge pitch. And a step of repeating the step a) to print a test pattern having a plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction on the print medium, wherein the pattern elements of the unit test patterns are arranged in the array. The pattern elements are grouped into three or more pattern elements arranged continuously in the direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the arrangement direction, and the three or more pattern elements in each group One end of the scanning direction is positioned on a straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction, and the other of the three or more pattern elements in the scanning direction Test pattern printing method and an end is positioned in another straight line which is inclined with respect to the scanning direction.

The invention according to claim 9 is an ink jet system that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in a scanning direction while ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection openings of the ejection mechanism. In the printing apparatus, a test pattern printing program that is executed when a test pattern is printed on a printing medium when an ejection abnormality is inspected, and the execution of the test pattern printing program by the printing apparatus includes: a ) While the print medium is moved relative to the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction, the ejection pitch of the plurality of ejection ports arranged at a predetermined ejection pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction is 2 A linear pattern parallel to the scanning direction is required by ejecting micro droplets of ink from each ejection port of the ejection port group existing at a separation ejection pitch of twice or more. A plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction, and a unit test pattern having a different length from an adjacent pattern element is drawn on the print medium, and b) A plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction are provided by repeating the step a) while changing the discharge port group existing at the separate discharge pitch to another discharge port group existing at the separate discharge pitch. A test pattern is printed on the print medium, and the pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements arranged in a row in the arrangement direction. The length of the element gradually decreases in the arrangement direction, and two unit tests are formed on the print medium by each discharge port group of the plurality of discharge ports. A pattern is drawn, and in one unit test pattern of the two unit test patterns, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from one to the other in the arrangement direction, and in the other unit test pattern The lengths of pattern elements in each group gradually decrease from the other in the arrangement direction toward the one .
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet system that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in a scanning direction while discharging fine ink droplets from a plurality of discharge ports of the discharge mechanism. In the printing apparatus, a test pattern printing program that is executed when a test pattern is printed on a printing medium when an ejection abnormality is inspected, and the execution of the test pattern printing program by the printing apparatus includes: a ) While the print medium is moved relative to the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction, the ejection pitch of the plurality of ejection ports arranged at a predetermined ejection pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction is 2 A linear pattern parallel to the scanning direction by ejecting micro droplets of ink from each ejection port of the ejection port group existing at a separation ejection pitch of double or more Drawing a unit test pattern on the print medium in which a plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction and each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element by drawing an element; b) A plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction are obtained by repeating the step a) while changing the ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch to another ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch. Printing the test pattern on the print medium, the pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the arrangement direction. The length of pattern elements gradually decreases in the arrangement direction, and the scanning method of the three or more pattern elements in each group. Is located on a straight line that is inclined with respect to the scanning direction, and the other end of the three or more pattern elements is located on another straight line that is inclined with respect to the scanning direction. .

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, an ink jet system that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in a scanning direction while ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection openings of the ejection mechanism. In the printing apparatus, test pattern data indicating a test pattern printed when an ejection abnormality is inspected, wherein the test pattern includes a plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction, and the plurality of unit test patterns Each has a plurality of pattern elements arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction corresponding to the scanning direction, and each pattern element ejects a micro droplet of ink from one ejection port. A straight line parallel to the first direction formed in the plurality of unit test patterns, each of the plurality of pattern elements is: Each of the plurality of discharge ports arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction corresponds to each of the discharge port groups existing at a spaced discharge pitch that is at least twice the discharge pitch, And each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element, and the discharge port group corresponding to the plurality of pattern elements in each unit test pattern is a discharge port corresponding to the plurality of pattern elements in another unit test pattern Unlike the group, the are grouped pattern elements every three or more pattern elements arranged continuously in the second direction of each unit test pattern, the length of the pattern elements in each group, the second The unit test patterns gradually decrease in the direction, and two unit test patterns correspond to each discharge port group of the plurality of discharge ports. In the other unit test pattern, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from one to the other in the second direction, and in the other unit test pattern, the length of the pattern element in each group It decreases gradually from the other side in the second direction toward the one side .
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, an ink jet system that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in a scanning direction while ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection openings of the ejection mechanism. In the printing apparatus, test pattern data indicating a test pattern printed when an ejection abnormality is inspected, wherein the test pattern includes a plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction, and the plurality of unit test patterns Each has a plurality of pattern elements arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction corresponding to the scanning direction, and each pattern element ejects a micro droplet of ink from one ejection port. A straight line parallel to the first direction formed in the plurality of unit test patterns, each of the plurality of pattern elements is: Each of the plurality of discharge ports arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction corresponds to each of the discharge port groups existing at a spaced discharge pitch that is at least twice the discharge pitch, And each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element, and the discharge port group corresponding to the plurality of pattern elements in each unit test pattern is a discharge port corresponding to the plurality of pattern elements in another unit test pattern Unlike the group, the pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the second direction, and the lengths of the pattern elements in each group are the same in the second direction. Decrease gradually, and within each of the groups, one end of the three or more pattern elements in the first direction is inclined with respect to the first direction. Positioned above, the first direction of the other end of the three or more pattern elements are located on another straight line which is inclined to the first direction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the area required for printing the test pattern and to detect the ejection port where the ejection abnormality has occurred with high accuracy.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that performs color printing by an inkjet method on a printing medium 9 that is a long printing sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes a scanning mechanism 27 that moves the print medium 9 in the (−Y) direction (hereinafter also referred to as “scanning direction”) in FIG. 1, and a scanning mechanism from a plurality of ejection openings. 27 includes an ejection mechanism 3 that ejects fine droplets of ink toward the print medium 9 that is being transported by the image sensor 27, an imaging unit 6 that captures an image of the print medium 9, and a control unit that controls these configurations. The ejection mechanism 3 and the imaging unit 6 are disposed above the scanning mechanism 27 and are fixed to a frame 25 provided on the base 20 so as to straddle the scanning mechanism 27.

  In the scanning mechanism 27, a plurality of rollers 271 that are long in the X direction in FIG. 1 are arranged in the Y direction, and the roll of the printing medium 9 before printing is held on the (+ Y) side of the plurality of rollers 271. In addition, a supply unit 272 that feeds the printing medium 9 from the roll in the scanning direction is provided, and a portion where printing of the printing medium 9 is performed is wound on the (−Y) side of the plurality of rollers 271 in a roll shape. A winding unit 273 for holding is provided. In the following description, the print medium 9 simply means the print medium 9 being transported (that is, the print medium 9 on the plurality of rollers 271).

  The roller 271a of the scanning mechanism 27 is provided with an encoder 29 that detects the moving speed of the printing medium 9 in the printing direction, and the rotation of the motor of the winding unit 273 is controlled based on the output of the encoder 29. The print medium 9 moves in the (−Y) direction at a constant speed. At this time, by applying a load (tension) in the direction opposite to the moving direction (that is, (+ Y) direction) to the print medium 9 by the motor included in the supply unit 272, the print medium on the plurality of rollers 271. 9 moves smoothly without undulations.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the discharge mechanism 3. The discharge mechanism 3 shown in FIG. 2 has four attachment members 32 that face the X direction perpendicular to the scanning direction and span the entire width of the print medium 9, and the four attachment members 32 are on the discharge mechanism main body 33. Are arranged and fixed in the scanning direction. A plurality of unit heads 34 that can be individually maintained are attached to each attachment member 32 in the width direction, and are substantially the same as the width of the print medium 9 by the plurality of unit heads 34 attached to one attachment member 32. One head row is arranged in the X direction by the length. In the printing apparatus 1, the discharge mechanism 3 is provided over the entire X direction of the print medium 9, and the print medium 9 moves to the print medium 9 by one relative movement in the (−Y) direction with respect to the discharge mechanism 3. Is completed (so-called one-pass printing is performed).

  Each unit head 34 has a plurality of discharge port arrays (in FIG. 2, one discharge port array is shown by a double line), and each discharge port array has a plurality of arrayed discharge ports. It is a set. Each of the plurality of unit heads 34 included in the (−Y) side head row 340a includes an ejection port row 310K that ejects K (black) ink, an ejection port row 310C that ejects C (cyan) ink, and an ejection port. The outlet row 310K and the discharge port row 310C are sequentially provided from the (−Y) side (toward the (+ Y) side). Each of the plurality of unit heads 34 included in the head row 340b adjacent to the (+ Y) side of the head row 340a has (−Y) the ejection port row 310C, the ejection port row 310K, the ejection port row 310C, and the ejection port row 310K. It has in order from the side.

  Each of the plurality of unit heads 34 included in the head row 340c adjacent to the (+ Y) side of the head row 340b is a discharge port row 310M that discharges M (magenta) ink, and a discharge that discharges Y (yellow) ink. Each of the plurality of unit heads 34 included in the head row 340d on the most (+ Y) side includes an outlet row 310Y, a discharge port row 310M, and a discharge port row 310Y in order from the (−Y) side. The discharge port array 310M, the discharge port array 310Y, and the discharge port array 310M are sequentially provided from the (−Y) side. The unit heads 34 included in the head rows 340a to 340d are fixed by being tilted by a predetermined minute rotation angle around an axis parallel to the Z-axis, whereby the discharge port rows of the unit heads 34 are similarly tilted.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing one unit head 34. FIG. 3 shows only the ejection port array 310K that ejects the same color (K). In the following description, it is assumed that one discharge port array 310K has eight discharge ports 31, but a larger number of discharge ports 31 are actually arranged. In the following, description will be given focusing only on an ejection port that ejects one of the four colors of CMYK, but ejection ports ejecting other colors of ink are similarly arranged.

  In each of the two ejection port arrays 310K of the unit head 34, eight ejection ports 31 are arranged in two rows in a staggered manner approximately in parallel with the X direction, and each ejection port 31 of one ejection port array 310K includes: Arranged so that the center position does not overlap with each ejection port 31 of the other ejection port array 310K in the X direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to the Y direction, which is the scanning direction, hereinafter referred to as “array direction”). . The dots drawn on the upper side of the ejection port array 310K in FIG. 3 indicate the center positions of the plurality of ejection ports 31 in the arrangement direction, and some dots are arrows that connect the ejection ports 31 corresponding to the dots. (Same for FIG. 7). In the unit head 34, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of ejection ports 31 of the two ejection port arrays 310K are arranged at a predetermined pitch (hereinafter referred to as “ejection pitch”) in the arrangement direction. In the ejection mechanism 3, the plurality of ejection ports 31 of the ejection port array 310 </ b> K provided in the plurality of unit heads 34 of the head arrays 340 a and 340 b (see FIG. 2) are arranged over the entire width of the print medium 9 in the arrangement direction. They are arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch with respect to the direction.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the imaging unit 6. The imaging unit 6 is disposed on the (−Y) side, which is downstream of the ejection mechanism 3 (see FIG. 1) in the transport direction of the print medium 9, and on the print medium 9 (−Y) than the ejection mechanism 3. The line sensor 61 that images a linear region parallel to the X direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction set on the side and the linear region on the print medium 9 (that is, the imaging region of the line sensor 61) is irradiated with light. The light irradiation part 62 to be provided is provided. The line sensor 61 includes a plurality of CCD (Charge Coupled Device) elements arranged linearly.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 1. As with a normal computer, the control unit 4 includes a CPU 401 that performs various arithmetic processes, a RAM 402 that stores programs to be executed and a work area for arithmetic processes, a ROM 403 that stores basic programs, and a fixed disk that stores various information 404, a display 405 for displaying various types of information to an operator, and an input unit 406 such as a keyboard and a mouse. In the fixed disk 404, a print program 4041 executed by the print control unit 41 and test pattern data 4042 used when the print program 4041 is executed are stored.

  6 is a block diagram showing functions realized by the CPU 401 and the like of the control unit 4 executing arithmetic processing in accordance with the print program 4041 (see FIG. 5). The print control unit 41 and the abnormality detection unit in FIG. 42 corresponds to a function realized by the CPU 401 or the like. These functions may be realized by a plurality of computers.

  The print control unit 41 controls the scanning mechanism 27 and the ejection mechanism 3 (see FIG. 1) based on the image data, thereby printing an image indicated by the image data on the print medium 9 and a plurality of ejection mechanisms 3. A test pattern for detecting a discharge abnormality by controlling the scanning mechanism 27 and the discharge mechanism 3 based on the test pattern data 4042 (see FIG. 5) when inspecting the discharge abnormality at the discharge port 31 (see FIG. 3). Is printed on the print medium 9. The test pattern data 4042 indicating the test pattern includes four unit test pattern data respectively indicating unit test patterns 81a to 81d (see FIG. 9B) described later.

  The abnormality detection unit 42 is based on the test pattern on the print medium 9 imaged by the imaging unit 6 (see FIG. 1) (that is, based on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit 6) and the ejection abnormality of the ejection mechanism 3. Is detected. The discharge abnormality referred to here is a discharge deviation in which the minute droplets of ink discharged from the discharge port 31 are applied in the arrangement direction from the position to be originally applied on the print medium 9, or the discharge from the discharge port. It means clogging or the like in which fine droplets of ink to be discharged are not ejected.

  Next, test pattern printing by the printing apparatus 1 will be described. Hereinafter, printing of a test pattern with one color (K) of the four colors of CMYK will be described, but test patterns with other colors of ink are performed in the same flow. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing one unit head 34 positioned at the (−X) side and (−Y) side corners in FIG. 2, and the same color (K) as in FIG. 3. Only the discharge ports 31 for discharging the ink of FIG.

  In printing a test pattern by the printing apparatus 1, a plurality of ejection ports 31 that eject K ink provided in a plurality of unit heads 34 (see FIG. 2) of the ejection mechanism 3 are arranged from the (−X) side with respect to the arrangement direction. Every 4th group (that is, every 4th group) is grouped so as to belong to the same group, and unit test patterns to be described later are sequentially drawn by the grouped discharge port groups. In the present embodiment, the plurality of discharge ports 31 of the unit head 34 are grouped into four discharge port groups 35a to 35d as shown by being surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In the following description, when the discharge port groups 35a to 35d are distinguished, the “first discharge port group 35a”, the “second discharge port group 35b”, the “third discharge port group 35c”, and the “fourth discharge port”, respectively. Group 35d ".

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first ejection port group 35a includes the ejection port 31 on the most (−X) side among all the ejection ports 31 that eject K ink, and has a ejection pitch with respect to the arrangement direction (X direction). It has a plurality of discharge ports 31 that exist at a pitch of 4 times (hereinafter referred to as “separated discharge pitch”). The second discharge port group 35b includes a plurality of discharge ports 31 including the second discharge port 31 from the (−X) side and present at a spaced discharge pitch with respect to the arrangement direction. The third discharge port group 35c includes: It has the 3rd discharge port 31 from the (-X) side, and has the several discharge port 31 which exists in a spaced apart discharge pitch regarding the sequence direction. The fourth discharge port group 35d includes a plurality of discharge ports 31 including the fourth discharge port 31 from the (−X) side and existing at a spaced discharge pitch in the arrangement direction. In FIG. 7, only one unit head 34 is illustrated, but the discharge ports 31 of the other unit heads 34 also belong to any one of the discharge port groups 35a to 35d based on the positions in the arrangement direction (specifically Are grouped in such a way that every four nozzles from the (−X) side belong to the same outlet group.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of printing a test pattern by the printing apparatus 1. In the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, first, the scanning mechanism 27 and the ejection mechanism 3 are controlled by the printing control unit 41 (see FIG. 6) of the control unit 4, and the printing medium 9 is moved in the (−Y) direction that is the scanning direction. While moving relative to the ejection mechanism 3, micro droplets of ink are ejected from the ejection ports 31 of the first ejection port group 35 a shown in FIG. 7 among the plurality of ejection ports 31 of the ejection mechanism 3. As a result, FIG. As shown to A, the unit test pattern 81a which has the some pattern element 811a-811d arranged along the X direction which is an arrangement | sequence direction is drawn on the printing medium 9 (step S11). The number of the plurality of pattern elements 811a to 811d on the print medium 9 is equal to the number of ejection ports 31 included in the first ejection port group 35a.

  Each of the pattern elements 811a to 811d is a straight line parallel to the Y direction, which is the scanning direction, and is different in length from the adjacent pattern element in the scanning direction. In the unit test pattern 81a, a plurality of pattern elements are shown in FIG. As shown by being surrounded by a two-dot chain line in A, the four pattern elements 811a to 811d arranged continuously in the arrangement direction are grouped, and the four pattern elements 811a to 811d in each group 815 are grouped. Is gradually reduced from one side to the other in the arrangement direction (in this embodiment, from the (−X) side to the (+ X) side).

  In each group 815, one end (end on the (+ Y) side) of the pattern elements 811a to 811d is on a straight line 812 that is parallel to the X direction that is the arrangement direction (that is, perpendicular to the scanning direction). The other ends (ends on the (−Y) side) of the pattern elements 811a to 811d are positioned on another straight line 813 that is inclined with respect to the scanning direction and is also inclined with respect to the straight line 812. To do. FIG. In A, straight lines 812 and 813 are drawn with a two-dot chain line, but in reality, the straight lines 812 and 813 are not printed on the print medium 9.

  In the printing apparatus 1, the four discharge ports 31 corresponding to the four pattern elements 811 a to 811 d in each group 815 are included in a plurality of discharge ports 31 provided in the same unit head 34. For example, FIG. The four pattern elements 811a to 811d in the most (−X) side group 815 in A correspond to the four discharge ports 31 of the first discharge port group 35a of the unit head 34 shown in FIG. .

  When the drawing of the unit test pattern 81a by the first ejection port group 35a is completed, the ejection of ink from the first ejection port group 35a is stopped and the presence / absence of the next ejection port group is confirmed (step S12). Then, the process returns to step S11, and micro droplets of ink are ejected from the ejection ports 31 of the second ejection port group 35b. As shown in B, a second unit test pattern 81b having a plurality of pattern elements 811a to 811d similar to the first unit test pattern 81a is drawn on the print medium 9 (step S11). The unit test pattern 81b is displaced from the unit test pattern 81a by the ejection pitch in the (+ X) direction (that is, the arrangement direction) and is adjacent to the (+ Y) side of the unit test pattern 81a (that is, adjacent in the arrangement direction). ) Is drawn at the position.

  When the drawing of the unit test pattern 81b by the second discharge port group 35b is completed, the third unit test pattern 81c is drawn by the third discharge port group 35c (steps S11 and S12), and then the fourth discharge port. By drawing the fourth unit test pattern 81d by the group 35d, printing of the test pattern 8 having the four unit test patterns 81a to 81d on the print medium 9 is completed (steps S11 and S12). In other words, by repeating the unit test pattern drawing process while changing the ejection port group to another ejection port group, the test pattern 8 having a plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction is printed on the print medium 9. Is done. In the test pattern 8, four unit test patterns 81a to 81d are arranged in the X direction, which is the scanning direction, while being shifted by the discharge pitch in the X direction, which is the arrangement direction.

  When printing of the test pattern 8 is completed, the test pattern 8 on the print medium 9 is captured by the imaging unit 6, and the captured image is sent to the abnormality detection unit 42 of the control unit 4 shown in FIG. 6 (step S13). In the abnormality detection unit 42, the captured image acquired by the imaging unit 6 and a reference image indicating a normal test pattern stored in advance are compared by pattern matching or the like. Then, the abnormality detecting unit 42 detects a position abnormality in the arrangement direction of the pattern elements 811a to 811d of the test pattern 8 (that is, the pattern element does not exist at a position where it should originally exist). It is detected as a discharge abnormality of the discharge port 31 corresponding to the pattern elements 811a to 811d where the abnormality is detected (step S14).

  FIG. A and FIG. B is a diagram illustrating an example of a test pattern 8 in a case where a pattern element position abnormality (that is, ejection abnormality of the ejection port 31) has occurred. FIG. In the test pattern 8 shown in A, one pattern element 811b surrounded by a two-dot chain line in the unit test pattern 81a on the (−Y) side is shifted to the (+ X) side from the normal position, and adjacent to it. The pattern element 811a and the pattern element 811c are close to the pattern element 811c. In this case, the abnormality detection unit 42 detects a discharge abnormality (that is, discharge deviation) of the discharge port 31 corresponding to the pattern element 811b.

  FIG. In the test pattern 8 shown in B, the pattern element 811c surrounded by the two-dot chain line in the unit test pattern 81a is shifted to the (−X) side from the normal position, and the pattern element 811b is moved from the normal position ( By shifting to the + X) side, the arrangement order of these pattern elements 811b and 811c in the arrangement direction is switched. Further, the pattern element 811b is originally positioned at the position where the pattern element 811c should be located by shifting to the (+ X) side by a distance equal to the separation discharge pitch. In this case, the abnormality detection unit 42 detects the ejection abnormality (ejection deviation) of the ejection port 31 corresponding to the pattern element 811b and the ejection port 31 corresponding to the pattern element 811c.

  Here, assuming a printing apparatus that prints a test pattern in which all pattern elements have the same length in the scanning direction, printing is performed in such a printing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a “printing apparatus of a comparative example”). From the test pattern 98, FIG. Assume that a positional abnormality (that is, positional deviation) of the second pattern element 9811 from the (−X) side is detected as indicated by being surrounded by a two-dot chain line in C. In this case, the position abnormality is shown in FIG. Similarly to the case described in A, it is due to the discharge deviation of the discharge port corresponding to the second pattern element 9811, or FIG. As in the case described in B, is it caused by the ejection deviation of the two ejection openings respectively corresponding to the second and third pattern elements 9811 (that is, the arrangement order of the two pattern elements 9811 in the arrangement direction)? Cannot be determined.

  On the other hand, in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, FIG. As shown in B, in the unit test patterns 81a to 81d of the test pattern 8, by making the lengths in the scanning direction of the plurality of pattern elements 811a to 811d different from the lengths in the scanning direction of the adjacent pattern elements, As described above, even if the arrangement order of the pattern elements in the arrangement direction is changed and one pattern element is drawn at a position where another pattern element is to be drawn, the pattern element in which the position abnormality has occurred Can be specified with high accuracy. As a result, it is possible to detect the ejection port 31 in which ejection abnormality has occurred with high accuracy. Further, by arranging the plurality of pattern elements 811a to 811d along the arrangement direction, the area required for printing the test pattern 8 on the print medium 9 can be reduced.

  By the way, in a one-pass printing apparatus in which printing is completed by a single relative movement with respect to a printing medium ejection mechanism, a number of ejection openings are provided in the ejection mechanism. Relative movement direction). As described above, in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the area required for printing the test pattern 8 on the printing medium 9 can be reduced, and the ejection port 31 in which ejection abnormality has occurred can be made with high accuracy. Since it can be detected, the configuration of the printing apparatus 1 is particularly suitable for the above-described one-pass printing apparatus.

  In the printing apparatus 1, when a discharge abnormality of the discharge port 31 is detected, the unit head 34 provided with the discharge port 31 is individually maintained independently of the other unit heads 34. For example, a cleaning cap is attached to the unit head 34 provided with the ejection port 31 in which ejection abnormality is detected, and all the ejection ports 31 of the unit head 34 (or ink of one color of the unit head 34 is discharged). Ink is sucked from all ejection ports 31). In this case, no cleaning cap is attached to the unit heads 34 other than the unit head 34 to be maintained, and no ink is sucked.

  In the printing apparatus 1, the four ejection ports 31 corresponding to the four pattern elements 811 a to 811 d in each group 815 are provided in the same unit head 34, thereby including the group 815 including the pattern element in which the positional abnormality is detected. And the unit head 34 provided with the four discharge ports 31 corresponding to the group 815 can be easily associated with each other. As a result, the maintenance of the unit head 34 in which the ejection abnormality has occurred can be promptly executed. Further, it is possible to easily grasp the unit head 34 that is likely to cause ejection abnormality.

  In the printing apparatus 1, the print medium 9 on which the test pattern 8 is printed is imaged by the imaging unit 6, and the abnormality detection unit 42 detects the position abnormality in the arrangement direction of the pattern elements 811 a to 811 d based on the captured image. A discharge abnormality of the discharge port 31 in the discharge mechanism 3 can be detected automatically and promptly.

  On the other hand, when the operator visually observes the test pattern 8 printed on the printing medium 9 by the printing apparatus 1, the position abnormality of the pattern element is detected, and the discharge abnormality of the discharge port 31 corresponding to the pattern element is detected. May be.

  As described above, in the test pattern 8 printed by the printing apparatus 1, the plurality of pattern elements of the unit test patterns 81a to 81d are grouped into four pattern elements 811a to 811d arranged adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction. As the length in the scanning direction of the four pattern elements 811a to 811d in each group 815 goes from one to the other in the arrangement direction (in this embodiment, from the (−X) side to (+ X) Decreases gradually as you go to the side. As a result, when the ejection abnormality is detected visually, the number of pattern elements from the (−X) side where the pattern abnormality has occurred is (−X) more than the pattern element. By counting the number of groups 815 located on the side, it is possible to easily specify the mark without printing and referring to a mark other than the pattern element. As a result, it is possible to easily identify the position of the discharge port 31 where the discharge abnormality has occurred even in the visual inspection. Note that the length in the scanning direction of the four pattern elements 811a to 811d in each group 815 gradually decreases from the (+ X) side to the (−X) side (that is, from the (−X) side to (+ X)). Gradually increasing toward the side).

  Further, in the test pattern 8, within each group 815, the (+ Y) side ends of the four pattern elements 811a to 811d are positioned on a straight line 812 (see FIG. 9.A) perpendicular to the scanning direction. The (−Y) side ends of the pattern elements 811a to 811d are positioned on a straight line 813 (see FIG. 9.A) inclined with respect to the scanning direction and the straight line 812. For this reason, when a pattern element position abnormality occurs, in the group 815 to which the pattern element belongs, the (−Y) side ends of the pattern elements 811a to 811d are not positioned on a straight line. As a result, when a discharge abnormality is detected visually, the pattern element position abnormality can be detected intuitively and easily, and as a result, the discharge port 31 in which the discharge abnormality has occurred is visually inspected. Can be easily and quickly detected.

  By the way, in each of the unit test patterns 81a to 81d of the test pattern 8, the distance between two pattern elements of the same length that are closest to each other in the arrangement direction (in this embodiment, a distance equal to four times the separation discharge pitch). The arrangement order of the two pattern elements having the same length in the arrangement direction may be changed by setting the pattern element to be larger than twice the maximum positional deviation amount of the pattern element expected to be caused by the ejection deviation of the ejection port 31. It is prevented. In other words, the width of each group 815 in the arrangement direction is determined by the maximum amount of pattern element displacement. Therefore, in order to reduce the area required for printing the test pattern 8 on the print medium 9 while accurately detecting the ejection port 31 in which ejection abnormality has occurred, the number of pattern elements belonging to one group 815 is It is preferable to increase as much as possible within a range in which the difference in length in the scanning direction between adjacent pattern elements can be discriminated.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another test pattern 8 a that is printed on the print medium 9 by the printing apparatus 1. In the printing apparatus 1, after the four unit test patterns 81a to 81d are drawn by the first discharge port group 35a to the fourth discharge port group 35d (see FIG. 7), the first discharge port group 35a to the fourth discharge port group. 35d sequentially draws four unit test patterns 82a to 82d having pattern element arrangements different from the unit test patterns 81a to 81d on the (+ Y) side of the unit test pattern 81d. 8a is printed.

  In the unit test patterns 82a to 82d, like the unit test patterns 81a to 81d, a plurality of linear pattern elements 811a to 811d parallel to the Y direction that is the scanning direction are arranged along the X direction that is the arrangement direction. .

  The unit test patterns 82a to 82d are different from the unit test patterns 81a to 81d in the arrangement order of the pattern elements, and are arranged in the order of the pattern elements 811d, 811c, 811b, and 811a from the (−X) side to the (+ X) side. Is done. In each of the unit test patterns 82a to 82d, a plurality of pattern elements are grouped into four pattern elements 811d to 811a arranged continuously in the arrangement direction, and the four pattern elements 811d to 811a in each group are grouped. The length gradually decreases from the (+ X) side to the (−X) side in the arrangement direction. Further, in each group, one end (end on the (+ Y) side) of the pattern elements 811d to 811a is positioned on a straight line parallel to the X direction that is the arrangement direction (that is, perpendicular to the scanning direction). The other ends (the (−Y) side ends) of the pattern elements 811d to 811a are positioned on another straight line that is inclined with respect to the scanning direction and is also inclined with respect to the straight line.

  FIG. A and FIG. B is a diagram illustrating an example of a test pattern 8a in a case where a pattern element position abnormality (that is, ejection abnormality of the ejection port 31) has occurred. FIG. In the test pattern 8a shown in A, a pattern element 811d shown by a broken line in the unit test pattern 81a and a pattern shown by a broken line in the unit test pattern 82a drawn by the first discharge port group 35a as in the unit test pattern 81a. There is no pattern element at the position where the element 811a is to be drawn. Further, there is no abnormality in the pattern elements other than the pattern element 811d and the pattern element 811a. Therefore, the abnormality detection unit 42 determines that the pattern element 811d and the pattern element 811a indicated by the broken lines are not drawn on the print medium 9, and discharge abnormality of one discharge port 31 corresponding to these pattern elements. (In other words, clogging occurs at the ejection port 31 and ink is not ejected).

  FIG. In the test pattern 8a shown in FIG. Similar to A, there is no pattern element at the position where the pattern element 811d indicated by the broken line in the unit test pattern 81a and the pattern element 811a indicated by the broken line in the unit test pattern 82a are to be drawn. And FIG. Unlike A, a pattern element longer than the pattern element 811b is drawn at the position of the third pattern element from the (+ X) side of the unit test pattern 82a (that is, the position where the pattern element 811b is arranged). The pattern element is drawn by overlapping the pattern element 811b and the pattern element 811a. In B, a white line is drawn at the (−Y) side end of the pattern element 811b in order to facilitate understanding of the drawing. Actually, the white line is not printed.

  Therefore, the abnormality detection unit 42 determines that the positions in the arrangement direction of the pattern elements 811d and the pattern elements 811a indicated by the broken lines are shifted in the (−X) direction by a distance equal to the separation discharge pitch. A discharge abnormality (discharge deviation) of one discharge port 31 corresponding to the element is detected. In the unit test pattern 81a, the pattern element 811d shifted in the (−X) direction overlaps the third pattern element 811c from the (−X) side, but the pattern element 811c is longer, so the pattern element 811d is Not detected.

  As described above, in the printing apparatus 1, by performing the ejection abnormality inspection based on the test pattern 8a shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to determine whether the ejection port 31 is clogged and the ejection deviation in which the pattern elements overlap. An abnormal discharge at the outlet 31 can be detected with higher accuracy.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible.

  In the unit test pattern of the above test pattern, the (+ Y) side ends of the four pattern elements 811a to 811d belonging to each group 815 are not necessarily arranged on a straight line perpendicular to the scanning direction. It suffices to be positioned on a straight line that is inclined with respect to the scanning direction (that is, non-parallel to the scanning direction). Thereby, as described above, the discharge port 31 where the discharge abnormality has occurred can be detected easily and promptly even in the visual inspection.

In the unit test pattern, the number of pattern elements belonging to each group 815 is not necessarily limited to 4, but may be 3 or more. Also in this case, the length of the pattern element in each group 815 gradually decreases in the arrangement direction, so that the position of the discharge port 31 where the discharge abnormality has occurred can be easily identified even in the visual inspection .

  The plurality of discharge ports 31 of the discharge mechanism 3 do not necessarily have to be grouped into four discharge port groups 35a to 35d, and may be grouped into at least two or more discharge port groups. In other words, the discharge ports 31 included in one discharge port group are arranged at a separated discharge pitch that is at least twice the discharge pitch.

  In the printing apparatus described above, the print medium does not necessarily have to be long, and the test pattern may be printed on a regular print medium such as an A4 size. In the printing apparatus, if the print medium moves relative to the ejection mechanism, for example, the ejection mechanism is scanned in a state where the print medium is fixed, whereby printing is performed on the print medium. Also good. Furthermore, it is not necessary to complete printing by one relative movement of the print medium with respect to the discharge mechanism, and a discharge mechanism having a width smaller than that of the print medium is provided, and scanning in the scanning direction of the discharge mechanism and in the arrangement direction are provided. Printing on the print medium may be performed by repeating the step movement. The print medium may be a sheet-like base material having liquid repellency such as a film or a plate-like member formed of plastic.

1 is a perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a top view of a discharge mechanism. It is a top view which expands and shows one unit head. It is a figure which expands and shows the imaging part vicinity. It is a figure which shows the structure of a control part. It is a block diagram which shows the function of a control part. It is a top view which expands and shows one unit head. It is a figure which shows the flow of printing of a test pattern. It is a figure which shows a unit test pattern. It is a figure which shows a test pattern. It is a figure which shows a test pattern. It is a figure which shows a test pattern. It is a figure which shows the test pattern printed by the printing apparatus of the comparative example. It is a figure which shows the other example of a test pattern. It is a figure which shows the other example of a test pattern. It is a figure which shows the other example of a test pattern.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 3 Discharge mechanism 6 Imaging part 8, 8a Test pattern 9 Print medium 27 Scan mechanism 31 Discharge port 34 Unit head 35a-35d Discharge port group 41 Print control part 42 Abnormality detection part 81a-81d, 82a-82d Unit test pattern 811a to 811d Pattern elements 812, 813 Straight line 815 Group 4041 Print program 4042 Test pattern data S11 to S14 Steps

Claims (12)

An inkjet printing apparatus,
An ejection mechanism for ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection ports;
A scanning mechanism for moving a print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in a scanning direction;
A print controller that performs printing on the print medium by controlling the ejection mechanism and the scanning mechanism;
With
In the discharge mechanism, the plurality of discharge ports are arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction,
At the time of inspection of discharge abnormality at the plurality of discharge ports, from the control by the print control unit,
a) From each discharge port of the discharge port group existing at a separated discharge pitch of twice or more of the discharge pitch among the plurality of discharge ports while moving the print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in the scanning direction. A plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction and each pattern element is adjacent to the adjacent pattern element by drawing a small droplet of ink and drawing a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing unit test patterns of different sizes on the print medium;
b) A plurality of unit tests arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch to another ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch. Printing a test pattern having a pattern on the print medium;
Is executed ,
The pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the arrangement direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the arrangement direction,
Two unit test patterns are drawn on the print medium by each discharge port group of the plurality of discharge ports,
In one unit test pattern of the two unit test patterns, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from one to the other in the arrangement direction, and in the other unit test pattern, in each group The length of a pattern element decreases gradually as it goes to said one from said other of said arrangement direction . The printing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
Within each group, one end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is positioned on a straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction, and the other end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is The printing apparatus is located on another straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction. An inkjet printing apparatus,
An ejection mechanism for ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection ports;
A scanning mechanism for moving a print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in a scanning direction;
A print controller that performs printing on the print medium by controlling the ejection mechanism and the scanning mechanism;
With
In the discharge mechanism, the plurality of discharge ports are arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction,
At the time of inspection of discharge abnormality at the plurality of discharge ports, from the control by the print control unit,
a) From each discharge port of the discharge port group existing at a separated discharge pitch of twice or more of the discharge pitch among the plurality of discharge ports while moving the print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in the scanning direction. A plurality of pattern elements are arranged along the arrangement direction and each pattern element is adjacent to the adjacent pattern element by drawing a small droplet of ink and drawing a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing unit test patterns of different sizes on the print medium;
b) A plurality of unit tests arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch to another ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch. Printing a test pattern having a pattern on the print medium;
Is executed,
The pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the arrangement direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the arrangement direction,
Within each group, one end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is positioned on a straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction, and the other end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is The printing apparatus is located on another straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The discharge mechanism includes a plurality of unit heads that can be individually maintained,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ejection ports corresponding to the three or more pattern elements in each group are ejection ports provided in the same unit head. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
An imaging unit for imaging the test pattern on the print medium;
An anomaly detection unit that detects an anomaly in the arrangement direction of each pattern element based on the captured image acquired by the imaging unit;
A printing apparatus, further comprising: The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The printing apparatus, wherein printing on the print medium is completed by one relative movement of the print medium with respect to the ejection mechanism. Inspection of ejection abnormality in an inkjet printing apparatus that performs printing by moving a print medium in a scanning direction relative to the ejection mechanism while ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection openings of the ejection mechanism. A test pattern printing method for printing a test pattern on a print medium sometimes,
a) While moving the print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction, the ejection pitch of the plurality of ejection ports arranged at a predetermined ejection pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Along the arrangement direction, the ink droplets are ejected from each ejection port of the ejection port group existing at a separation ejection pitch of 2 times or more to draw a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements are arranged and each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element on the print medium;
b) A plurality of unit tests arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch to another ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch. Printing a test pattern having a pattern on the print medium;
Equipped with a,
The pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the arrangement direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the arrangement direction,
Two unit test patterns are drawn on the print medium by each discharge port group of the plurality of discharge ports,
In one unit test pattern of the two unit test patterns, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from one to the other in the arrangement direction, and in the other unit test pattern, in each group A test pattern printing method, wherein the length of a pattern element gradually decreases from the other side in the arrangement direction toward the one side . Inspection of ejection abnormality in an inkjet printing apparatus that performs printing by moving a print medium in a scanning direction relative to the ejection mechanism while ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection openings of the ejection mechanism. A test pattern printing method for printing a test pattern on a print medium sometimes,
a) While moving the print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction, the ejection pitch of the plurality of ejection ports arranged at a predetermined ejection pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Along the arrangement direction, the ink droplets are ejected from each ejection port of the ejection port group existing at a separation ejection pitch of 2 times or more to draw a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements are arranged and each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element on the print medium;
b) A plurality of unit tests arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch to another ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch. Printing a test pattern having a pattern on the print medium;
Equipped with a,
The pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the arrangement direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the arrangement direction,
Within each group, one end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is positioned on a straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction, and the other end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is A test pattern printing method, wherein the test pattern is printed on another straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction . Inspection of ejection abnormality in an inkjet printing apparatus that performs printing by moving a print medium in a scanning direction relative to the ejection mechanism while ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection openings of the ejection mechanism. A test pattern printing program that is executed when printing a test pattern on a printing medium sometimes, and the execution of the test pattern printing program by the printing device is performed on the printing device,
a) While moving the print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction, the ejection pitch of the plurality of ejection ports arranged at a predetermined ejection pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Along the arrangement direction, the ink droplets are ejected from each ejection port of the ejection port group existing at a separation ejection pitch of 2 times or more to draw a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements are arranged and each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element on the print medium;
b) A plurality of unit tests arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch to another ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch. Printing a test pattern having a pattern on the print medium;
Was executed,
The pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the arrangement direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the arrangement direction,
Two unit test patterns are drawn on the print medium by each discharge port group of the plurality of discharge ports,
In one unit test pattern of the two unit test patterns, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from one to the other in the arrangement direction, and in the other unit test pattern, in each group A test pattern printing program, wherein the length of a pattern element gradually decreases from the other in the arrangement direction toward the one . Inspection of ejection abnormality in an inkjet printing apparatus that performs printing by moving a print medium in a scanning direction relative to the ejection mechanism while ejecting micro droplets of ink from a plurality of ejection openings of the ejection mechanism. A test pattern printing program that is executed when printing a test pattern on a printing medium sometimes, and the execution of the test pattern printing program by the printing device is performed on the printing device,
a) While moving the print medium relative to the ejection mechanism in the scanning direction, the ejection pitch of the plurality of ejection ports arranged at a predetermined ejection pitch with respect to the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Along the arrangement direction, the ink droplets are ejected from each ejection port of the ejection port group existing at a separation ejection pitch of 2 times or more to draw a linear pattern element parallel to the scanning direction. Drawing a unit test pattern in which a plurality of pattern elements are arranged and each pattern element is different in length from an adjacent pattern element on the print medium;
b) A plurality of unit tests arranged in the scanning direction by repeating the step a) while changing the ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch to another ejection port group existing at the separated ejection pitch. Printing a test pattern having a pattern on the print medium;
Was executed,
The pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the arrangement direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the arrangement direction,
Within each group, one end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is positioned on a straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction, and the other end in the scanning direction of the three or more pattern elements is A test pattern printing program, which is located on another straight line inclined with respect to the scanning direction . Inspection of discharge abnormality in an ink jet printing apparatus that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in the scanning direction while discharging micro droplets of ink from a plurality of discharge ports of the discharge mechanism. Test pattern data indicating a test pattern to be printed when
The test pattern comprises a plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction,
Each of the plurality of unit test patterns has a plurality of pattern elements arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction corresponding to the scanning direction, and each pattern element receives ink from one ejection port. A straight line parallel to the first direction formed by ejecting a small droplet of
In each of the plurality of unit test patterns, the plurality of pattern elements are at least twice the discharge pitch among the plurality of discharge ports arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch in the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Each of the pattern elements corresponds to the discharge port group that exists at a separate discharge pitch, and each pattern element has a different length from the adjacent pattern element,
Outlet groups corresponding to the plurality of pattern elements in each unit test pattern, unlike the discharge port group corresponding to said plurality of pattern elements in the other unit test pattern,
The pattern elements of each unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements arranged continuously in the second direction, and the lengths of the pattern elements in each group gradually decrease in the second direction. ,
Two unit test patterns correspond to each discharge port group of the plurality of discharge ports,
In one unit test pattern of the two unit test patterns, the length of the pattern element in each group gradually decreases from one to the other in the second direction, and in the other unit test pattern, in each group The test pattern data is characterized in that the length of the pattern element gradually decreases from the other in the second direction toward the one . Inspection of discharge abnormality in an ink jet printing apparatus that performs printing by moving a print medium relative to the discharge mechanism in the scanning direction while discharging micro droplets of ink from a plurality of discharge ports of the discharge mechanism. Test pattern data indicating a test pattern to be printed when
The test pattern comprises a plurality of unit test patterns arranged in the scanning direction,
Each of the plurality of unit test patterns has a plurality of pattern elements arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction corresponding to the scanning direction, and each pattern element receives ink from one ejection port. A straight line parallel to the first direction formed by ejecting a small droplet of
In each of the plurality of unit test patterns, the plurality of pattern elements are at least twice the discharge pitch among the plurality of discharge ports arranged at a predetermined discharge pitch in the arrangement direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. Each of the pattern elements corresponds to the discharge port group that exists at a separate discharge pitch, and each pattern element has a different length from the adjacent pattern element,
Outlet groups corresponding to the plurality of pattern elements in each unit test pattern, unlike the discharge port group corresponding to said plurality of pattern elements in the other unit test pattern,
The pattern elements of the unit test pattern are grouped into three or more pattern elements that are continuously arranged in the second direction, and the length of the pattern elements in each group gradually decreases in the second direction,
Within each group, one end of the three or more pattern elements in the first direction is located on a straight line inclined with respect to the first direction, and the other of the three or more pattern elements in the first direction The test pattern data is located on another straight line inclined with respect to the first direction .

Images