JP5846757B2 - Inkjet head inspection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for an inkjet head that ejects ink droplets.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus, as an index relating to the performance of the apparatus, characteristics relating to recording position accuracy such as ink droplet ejection characteristics of ink jet heads and penetrability into recording media, and recording quality such as optical reflection density, color development, bleeding, weather resistance, etc. And the like. In particular, the droplet discharge characteristics of the ink jet head are important in obtaining high definition and high image quality.

  For example, performance evaluations such as the ejection amount, ejection speed, and landing position of ink droplets are performed not only in the product development process but also in the production process of the inkjet head. Ink jet heads with poor droplet discharge performance have effects such as density unevenness and color tone shift in color images, and hinder high quality and high image quality.

  Therefore, as an ink droplet landing position measuring method, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet head inspection device. In the inspection apparatus of Patent Document 1, a predetermined pattern is printed on a transparent medium by ejecting ink from an ink ejection port (nozzle) of an inkjet head, and the position of the nozzle is measured by a microscope and ejected from the nozzle. The ink jet head is inspected by measuring the landing position of the ink droplet.

JP 2001-63066 A

  In Patent Document 1 described above, in order to measure the landing positions of the nozzles and the ink droplets, an operation of moving the position of the microscope and focusing each of them occurs. In recent years, there is a tendency to increase the number of nozzles of an inkjet head in order to cope with higher image quality and higher speed. For this reason, in Patent Document 1 described above, it is necessary to focus each time the microscope is moved along the nozzle row, which is troublesome.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet head inspection apparatus that efficiently measures the ejection port of an inkjet head and the landing position of ink ejected from the ejection port.

  In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment according to the present invention provides an inkjet head of an image recording apparatus that records an image by dots on a recording medium by ejecting ink from a plurality of ink ejection ports formed in a row on an ink ejection surface. An inspection apparatus for inspecting a head holding housing having a mounting surface for an inspection recording medium, and the mounting at an image recording position provided on the head holding housing and spaced above the mounting surface. A head holding portion that holds the ink jet head with the ink discharge surface parallel to the surface, and is parallel to the opposing ink discharge surface and the mounting surface, along the row of the ink discharge ports. The image of the ink ejection port and the image of the inspection pattern recorded on the recording medium on the mounting surface are projected by the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection port. An optical member having a surface, and an optical member moving mechanism for retracting the optical member from between the ink ejection surface and the mounting surface when ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium on the mounting surface, An imaging unit that simultaneously captures the image of the ink ejection port and the image of the dot projected from the optical member at the image recording position in one composition, and a certain interval along the row of the ink ejection port, An image pickup unit moving mechanism that moves the image pickup unit beyond the maximum print width, and the positions of all ink ejection openings and the arrival of ink droplets from the dots from the image data picked up by the image pickup unit moved by the image pickup unit moving mechanism An inkjet head inspection apparatus comprising: a control unit that calculates positions and acquires ink ejection characteristics at all ink ejection ports.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the inspection apparatus of the inkjet head which measures efficiently the discharge position of an inkjet head and the landing position of the ink discharged from this discharge opening can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an inkjet head inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of the inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is an external view of the inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment viewed from the front. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a measurement order by the inspection apparatus of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a state where the optical component is moved and set to the imaging position. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the imaging unit has moved in the nozzle row direction from the imaging start position. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams schematically illustrating a screen that displays information including the nozzle position and the dot position calculated by the PC unit from the image captured by the imaging unit 15. FIG. 8A is a diagram for explaining an ideal landing position of the ejected ink droplet, and FIG. 8B is a diagram for explaining a position of the actually landed dot of the ejected ink droplet. FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the dot recording state inspection apparatus according to the first modification. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the inspection apparatus at the time of inspection in the first modification. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of the inspection apparatus in the state shown in FIG. 10 as viewed from the side. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of the inspection apparatus in the state shown in FIG. 12 as viewed from the side. FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of only the characteristic portion of the optical member and the head, which are characteristic portions of the third embodiment. 16 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of the configuration in FIG. 15 viewed from the side surface direction. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a case where flange portions are provided on both sides of the exterior portion of the head and are held by the head holding portion with reference to these flange portions.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an inkjet head inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of the inspection apparatus viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is an external view of the inspection apparatus as viewed from the front. In the following description, the X-axis direction is the main scanning direction or the nozzle row direction, and the Y-axis direction is the sub-scanning direction or the recording medium transport direction.

  In this embodiment, an optical member inserted between a plurality of ink discharge ports (nozzles) of an opposing inkjet head and a recording medium is recorded by an image of the ink discharge port and ink droplets discharged from the ink discharge port. The dot images are projected at the same optical axis distance, focused at the same focal length, and while moving, the image pickup unit picks up each ink ejection port and the dot simultaneously with one composition to obtain image data. This is an inspection apparatus that simultaneously measures the ink ejection port position and the arrival position of the ejected ink droplet from this image data.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection apparatus 1 mainly includes a head holding unit 10 for mounting and fixing a head holding housing 10 serving as a base material and an inkjet head (hereinafter referred to as a head) 11 provided on the upper surface of the housing. 12, an optical member 14 having a length 14L longer than the nozzle row, an optical member moving mechanism 16 that holds the optical member 14 and moves the optical member 14 below the head, or retracts the optical member 14 from below the head, An imaging unit 15 for imaging an ink ejection port (hereinafter referred to as a nozzle) projected onto the optical member 14 and, for example, dots of a predetermined pattern for inspection, an imaging unit movable mechanism 17 that slides the imaging unit 15, and Consists of. A dot is a dot image formed at a spot where an ink droplet ejected from a nozzle has landed on the recording medium 13, and a position where the dot is recorded is referred to as an ink droplet arrival position or a dot position.

  The head holding housing 10 is formed of a metal material or a hard resin material, in particular, a material that has little shape deformation due to the ambient environmental temperature. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the head holding housing 10 includes an installation surface (a reference surface) 10a of the head holding unit 12 and a step surface 10b parallel to the installation surface 10a that is one step lower than the installation surface 10a. It has a shape with. On the step surface 10b, a moving guide rail 20 for the imaging unit movable mechanism 17 and the like are provided along the X-axis direction in which the optical member 14 extends.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the head holding unit 12 is provided to hold the head 11 at least at two locations on both ends in the nozzle row direction. The head holding unit 12 is arranged such that the nozzle plate (or ink ejection surface) 11a on which the plurality of nozzles of the mounted head 11 are formed and the installation surface 10a are parallel and have a predetermined fixed interval, or a nozzle array The distance between the two nozzles at both ends and the installation surface 10a is set to be the same. In this embodiment, the ink discharge surface is used as a reference for mounting and holding. The separation distance between the ink ejection surface and the installation surface 10a is preferably set such that the distance between the surface of the recording medium 13 placed on the installation surface 10a and the nozzles actually performs the recording operation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the optical member 14 has a triangular shape when viewed from the side surface direction (X-axis direction) and has a length equal to or greater than the maximum print width (nozzle row length) of the head 11. This is a triangular prism. The optical member 14 has a first surface 14b and a second surface 14c, and an angle formed by the first surface 14b and the second surface 14c passes through the vertex 14a and extends in the Y-axis direction (horizontal direction). It is divided into two equal parts.

  Then, the optical member 14 ejects ink droplets from the nozzles of the head 11 toward the recording medium 13 placed on the installation surface 10 a to record dots (ink droplet arrival positions) on the recording medium 13. Later, the optical member moving mechanism 16 moves to a position (imaging position) between the head 11 and the recording medium 13. In this way, the optical member 14 reflects the image of the ink ejection surface on the first surface 14b, reflects the image of the dots on the other second surface 14c, and arranges the reflected images side by side. Projecting within the imaging range (angle of view) of the imaging unit 15 ahead in the axial direction.

  Here, the optical member 14 has a distance A from the ink ejection surface 11a to the virtual line W as shown in FIG. 2 so that the nozzle position and the ink droplet arrival position can be measured in one image. When the distance from the surface of the recording medium 13 to the virtual line W is B, the optical member movable mechanism 16 holds the distance A so that the distance B is equal (A = B). In other words, the respective images are projected at the same optical axis distance, and focusing is performed at the same focal length. A position on the virtual line W where the distance A is equal to the distance B is defined as a middle point 14a '.

  The optical member moving mechanism 16 has described the optical member 14 in the state in which the optical member 14 is in parallel between the ink ejection surface 11a of the head 11 and the recording medium 13 without interfering with the head holding housing 12. The position is moved between the imaging position or the retracted position retracted in the Y-axis direction so that no ink droplets are applied. In this embodiment, the example in which the optical member 14 is moved in parallel and retracted has been described. However, as long as the optical member 14 can be moved to the imaging position at the midpoint 14a ', the movement is not limited to parallel movement.

  The imaging unit 15 is connected to a control unit 2 such as a personal computer (PC). Based on the captured image, the control unit 2 performs a processing operation on the nozzle position (ink ejection port position) and the dot position (ink droplet arrival position), and information on the ink ejection ejected from these positions and the nozzles. (Characteristics of the flying curve of ink droplets, the amount of deviation between the ideal arrival position and the actual arrival position, etc.) or information relating to correction is acquired. The acquired information is displayed on the screen of the display unit 3 and stored in a memory or the like in the control unit 2. Further, the inspection apparatus and the control unit 2 may be connected via a known network (LAN or the like).

The imaging unit movable mechanism 17 fixes the imaging unit 15 so that the center of the imaging range of the imaging unit 15 coincides with an extension line of the virtual line W. The imaging unit movable mechanism 17 has a moving guide rail 20 laid along the X-axis direction in which the optical member 14 extends, and a carriage that can move using a motor as a driving source is provided on the rail. The imaging unit 15 is mounted on a carriage, and images all nozzles and dots while maintaining the composition of the nozzles and dots while moving along the X-axis direction in which the optical member 14 extends during imaging.
As described above, the imaging unit 15 captures each image of the nozzles simultaneously projected from the optical member 14 and the dots recorded with the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles. The captured image has a composition in which nozzles and dots are arranged.

  With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the measurement order by an inspection apparatus is demonstrated. FIG. 5 shows a state where the optical component is moved and set to the imaging position. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the imaging unit has moved in the nozzle row direction from the imaging start position.

  In the inspection apparatus 1, as an initial state, the optical member 14 is retracted to the retracted position by the optical member moving mechanism 16. First, the recording medium 13 is mounted on the installation surface 10a. Next, the head 11 to be inspected is fixed so as to be held by the head holding portion 12 of the inspection apparatus 1 (step S1). Next, ink droplets are ejected from each nozzle, and a predetermined pattern or dots having an arbitrary diameter are recorded on the recording medium 13 (step S2). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical member 14 is moved from the retracted position to the imaging position where the nozzle and the dot face each other by the optical member moving mechanism 16 (step S3).

  Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the imaging unit 15 starts capturing an image with a composition using nozzles and dots projected onto the optical member 14 from the imaging start position m (step S <b> 4). Along with the start of imaging by the imaging unit 15, the imaging unit movable mechanism 17 moves the print width or more in the X-axis direction to continuously image the first and last nozzles and dots (step S5). Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the imaging unit 15 moves beyond the print width of the head 11 and reaches the movement end point position n, the imaging unit movable mechanism 17 is stopped. Note that after completion of imaging after moving on the forward path, the imaging unit 15 may simply be returned to the imaging start position m on the return path, or the movement end point position n is set as the next imaging start position m, and the next path is moved by the next path movement. Imaging with the head 11 may be performed.

  During the above imaging, the PC unit sequentially calculates the difference between each nozzle position (ink ejection port position) and dot position (ink droplet arrival position) based on the captured image, and displays it on a display unit (not shown). Displayed (step S6). As information displayed on the display unit, a position difference between the nozzle and the dot may be displayed, or a correction position (adjustment value) may be displayed together.

  FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams schematically illustrating a screen that displays information including the nozzle position and the dot position calculated by the PC unit from the image captured by the imaging unit 15. Here, FIG. 7A shows an example in which the nozzle position and the dot position are normal or within the allowable range and there is no positional deviation, and FIG. 7B shows that the nozzle position and the dot position exceed the allowable range, The example which the position shift which becomes a rejection has arisen is shown. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a difference between an ideal dot position due to landed ink on the nozzle position and an actual dot position.

  7A and 7B, a line S indicating the vertex 14a of the optical member 14 is displayed at the center of the screen. Above the line S on the screen, the opening edge of the nozzle 21 projected onto the optical member 14 is shown, and the center of gravity of the nozzle 21 is the virtual center 21a. Further, on the screen, below the line S, the outer periphery of the dot 22 recorded on the recording medium 13 by the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle 21 is shown, and the center of gravity of the dot 22 is set as the virtual center 22a. .

  A broken line 25 indicates a permissible range of the position of the ink droplet ejected from the ink ejection port, and if a part of the outer periphery of the dot 22 exceeds the broken line 25, it is determined to be unacceptable.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, when the dot 22 is within the broken line 25 and the head 11 is normal, for example, when the component (assembly) completely matches the design value, the vertical direction on the screen In the (vertical direction), the distance 23 from the line S to the virtual center 21a and the distance 24 from the line S to the virtual center 22a coincide with each other. Further, in the horizontal direction on the screen, the virtual center 21a and the virtual center 22a The position matches. In other words, the virtual center 21a and the virtual center 22a are located on the same axis line in the vertical direction (vertical direction) on the screen. On the other hand, the processing accuracy at the time of nozzle formation and the assembly accuracy in which a plurality of parts are assembled are the main factors, and the nozzle opening direction and the like may not be as designed, resulting in a situation where the ink ejection direction deviates from the allowable range.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, when a part of the dots 22 exceeds the broken line 25 and the head 11 is abnormal, for example, when the ink droplet positions of the dots are shifted obliquely upward on the screen, the screen In the upper vertical direction (vertical direction), a difference [distance 23−distance 27] occurs between the distance 23 from the line S to the virtual center 21a and the distance 27 from the line S to the virtual center 26a. In the horizontal direction on the screen, a difference 28 is generated between the virtual center 21a and the virtual center 26a. In this way, the landing position inspection of the head 11 is performed, and the quality of the head 11 is determined.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when the dot 22 is displaced, the amount of displacement is calculated, the calculated amount of displacement is recorded for each head 11, and the head 11 is actually moved. When mounted on a printer, it may be used for correction as a head adjustment parameter. That means
The difference between the distance 23 and the distance 27 is the ideal landing position p in the Y-axis direction (printing medium conveyance direction) and the ink droplet position q of the actually landed dots as shown in FIG. The difference 28 corresponds to the difference 29 between the ideal landing position p in the X-axis direction and the ink droplet position q of the actually landed dot as shown in FIG. 8B. It corresponds to. The numerical values of these differences may be recorded for each head 11 and used for correction as a head adjustment parameter when the head 11 is actually mounted on the printer apparatus.

As described above, according to the ink jet head inspection apparatus of the present embodiment, the images of the nozzles that can be retracted and that are ink discharge ports and the dots recorded on the recording medium by the nozzles are projected together. And a nozzle position (ink ejection port position) and a dot position (ink droplet arrival position) on the same screen from an image obtained by capturing an image projected by the optical member, and an allowable range of positional deviation and A correction value can be obtained.
The imaging unit projects each image at the same optical axis distance, and performs focusing at the same focal length. Furthermore, by imaging while moving along the optical member at the same separation distance, it is possible to capture images of all the nozzles and dots with a single movement, and it is possible to focus only once.

[First Modification of First Embodiment]
Next, a first modification will be described.
9 and 10 are perspective views showing the entire configuration of the inspection apparatus according to the first modification. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of the inspection apparatus in the state shown in FIG. 10 as viewed from the side. This inspection apparatus is substantially the same as the apparatus configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the first embodiment described above, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. The characteristic part of this modification will be described.

  The head movable mechanism 31 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be positioned so that the ink ejection surface of the head 11 and the recording surface of the recording medium 1 are parallel to each other, and the ink ejection surface and the recording surface are in a parallel state. It is configured to move up and down in the Z-axis direction from the image recording position while maintaining it. The head movable mechanism 31 is configured integrally with the head holding portion 12 described above, and includes, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism or an oil cylinder mechanism on the two fixing portions 31 a that fix the head 11, and moves up and down integrally. Let

  With this configuration, after recording dots on the recording medium 13 with the head gap in actual use, the optical member 14 is raised to a height at which the optical member 14 can be inserted, and then the optical member is projected by the imaging unit 15 as described above. An image consisting of a nozzle and dot composition is taken. The nozzle position (ink ejection port position) and dot position (ink droplet arrival position) can be measured from the captured image.

  Therefore, according to this modification, it is possible to measure the ink discharge port position at the accurate ink discharge position and the actual ink droplet arrival position without reducing the size (thinning) of the optical member. Further, even when the head gap is small and the optical component 14 does not enter, the inspection can be easily performed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
12 and 13 are perspective views showing the overall configuration of the inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration of the inspection apparatus in the state shown in FIG. 12 as viewed from the side. This inspection apparatus is substantially the same as the apparatus configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the first embodiment described above, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. The characteristic part of this embodiment will be described.

  In the second embodiment, an optical member and an imaging unit movable device 32 in which a support unit of the optical member 14 and a support unit of the imaging unit 15 are integrally configured, and a head holding unit 33 that holds the head 11 are provided. This is a configuration provided in the head holding housing 35. In the first embodiment and the first modification described above, the optical member 14 having a length exceeding the nozzle row length of the head is fixed. However, in this embodiment, the optical member 14 is also moved. The optical member 14 having a length less than the nozzle row length is employed. FIG. 12 shows a state where the optical component and the imaging means movable device 32 are at the imaging start position m, and FIG. 13 shows that the optical component and the imaging means movable device 32 are moved from the imaging start position m to the movement end position n. The moved state is shown.

The head holding housing 35 has a flat plate shape, and an optical member and guide rails 20 and 34 for moving the imaging unit movable device 32 are provided in parallel on the upper surface so as to extend along the X-axis direction. .
In the optical member and imaging unit movable device 32, the support portions of the optical member 14 and the imaging unit 15 are slidably provided so as to be bridged between the guide rails 20 and 34 for movement. The positional relationship between the optical member 14 and the imaging unit 15 is the same as that in the first embodiment described above. Therefore, the nozzle and the dot projected on the optical member 14 can be photographed simultaneously in one composition.

  The head holding portion 33 has a shape in which the lower portion is notched and a connecting portion that connects the optical member 14 and each support portion of the imaging unit 15 in the optical member and the imaging unit movable device 32 penetrates and is movable, for example, H It is formed into a shape. On the upper surface of the head holding part 33, there are provided two fixing parts for holding and fixing the head 11 along the nozzle row direction at both ends of the mounting position of the recording medium 13 and between the mounting positions. The head holding unit 33 is set so that the ink ejection surface of the mounted head 11 and the recording medium 13 are parallel and have a predetermined fixed distance.

  According to this embodiment, in the above-described embodiment and modification, an optical member having a nozzle row length of the head 11, that is, a length equivalent to the maximum print width is necessary, but inspection is performed with a smaller optical member. Can be implemented. Further, since it is slidably supported by the two moving guide rails, high measurement accuracy can be obtained.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment will be described.
FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of only the characteristic part of the optical member and the head, which are characteristic parts of the third embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the structure in FIG. is there. The inspection apparatus of the present embodiment is the same as the apparatus configuration shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the first embodiment described above, except for the optical member shown in FIG. 15 and the optical member movable mechanism. The illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.

This embodiment is characterized by an optical member 41 in which slits having a width 44 and a length 45 through which ink droplets ejected from all nozzles of the head 11 can pass without contact are formed. Since the optical member 41 allows the ink droplet 43 to pass therethrough, it does not need to be retracted during dot recording, and is fixed to the head holding housing. Therefore, the optical member moving mechanism as in the first embodiment is not provided.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the retracting operation of the optical member 41 is eliminated, and recording and inspection of the predetermined pattern for inspection are performed with the optical member 41 inserted between the head 11 and the recording medium 13. It becomes possible.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the head holding portion 12 holds the ink discharge surface 11a of the head 11 as a reference. However, as shown in FIG. 17, the flange portions 11b are provided on both sides of the exterior portion of the head 11, respectively. Thus, the inspection may be performed by holding the collar portion 11b on the head holding portion 12 with reference to the collar portion 11b.
Further, when the inspection apparatus starts the inspection, it projects onto the optical member using a master head (reference head) in which the ink discharge port position and the arrival position of the ink droplet discharged from the ink discharge port are known in advance. In order to perform calibration by measuring the nozzle position and ink position, it is necessary to confirm that a certain measurement result is shown before the inspection. It is also necessary to grasp the standard correction amount.

Each embodiment and each modification described above include the gist of the following invention.
1. An inkjet head inspection method that forms an image by ejecting liquid droplets. When a predetermined pattern is printed on a recording medium and the performance of the inkjet head is evaluated from the printed pattern, the ink ejection port position and the ejection from the ink ejection port A method of measuring the arrival position of the ink droplets,
An inkjet head capable of ejecting ink; and
An inkjet holding housing for holding the inkjet head;
A recording medium for landing the ink discharged from the ink discharge port of the inkjet head;
An optical member capable of simultaneously projecting the ink discharge port position of the inkjet head and the arrival position of the ink droplets discharged from the ink discharge port;
An optical member moving mechanism capable of inserting the optical member between a head and a recording medium;
A member for positioning the optical member with respect to the measurement object;
A measuring device capable of photographing the nozzle position and the ink position projected on the optical member;
A measuring device moving mechanism that enables the measuring device to move in at least one direction, an optical member (prism) is inserted between the discharge port surface of the head and the recording medium, and the ink discharge port position and ink Simultaneously measure the arrival position of the ink droplets ejected from the ejection port, and move the measuring device in parallel to the ink jet head, thereby enabling inspection exceeding the maximum print width of the ink jet at one time. Inkjet head inspection device.

2. An inkjet head inspection method that forms an image by ejecting liquid droplets. When a predetermined pattern is printed on a recording medium and the performance of the inkjet head is evaluated from the printed pattern, the ink ejection port position and the ejection from the ink ejection port A method of measuring the arrival position of the ink droplets,
An inkjet head capable of ejecting ink; and
An inkjet holding housing for holding the inkjet head;
A recording medium for landing the ink discharged from the ink discharge port of the inkjet head;
An optical member capable of simultaneously projecting the ink discharge port position of the ink jet head and the arrival position of the ink droplet discharged from the ink discharge port and provided with a slit having a width larger than the ink droplet discharged from the ink discharge port; ,
A member for positioning the optical member with respect to the measurement object;
A measuring device capable of photographing the nozzle position and the ink position projected on the optical member;
A measurement device movable mechanism that enables the measurement device to be movable in at least one direction, and simultaneously measures the position of the ink ejection port and the arrival position of the ink droplet ejected from the ink ejection port. An inspection apparatus for an ink-jet head, which enables an inspection exceeding the maximum print width of an ink-jet to be performed at a time by moving the nozzle parallel to the ink-jet head.

3. An inkjet head inspection method that forms an image by ejecting liquid droplets. When a predetermined pattern is printed on a recording medium and the performance of the inkjet head is evaluated from the printed pattern, the ink ejection port position and the ejection from the ink ejection port A method of measuring the arrival position of the ink droplets,
An inkjet head capable of ejecting ink; and
An inkjet holding housing for holding the inkjet head;
A mechanism for moving the inkjet head in a direction in which the distance between the inkjet head and the recording medium increases;
An optical member capable of simultaneously projecting the ink discharge port position of the ink jet head and the arrival position of the ink droplet discharged from the ink discharge port and provided with a slit having a width larger than the ink droplet discharged from the ink discharge port; ,
A member for positioning the optical member with respect to the measurement object;
A measurement device capable of photographing the nozzle position and ink position projected on the optical member, and a measurement device movable mechanism capable of moving the measurement device in at least one direction,
Simultaneously measure the ink ejection port position and the arrival position of the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection port, and move the measuring device in parallel to the inkjet head to perform inspection once more than the maximum print width of the inkjet Inkjet head inspection apparatus, characterized by being capable of

    4). An optical member movable mechanism that can insert the optical member between the head and the recording medium, a member that positions the optical member with respect to the measurement target, and a nozzle position and an ink position projected on the optical member can be photographed. Using the master head, where the ink ejection port position and the arrival position of the ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection port are known in advance, a certain measurement result must be shown before inspection. The inkjet head inspection apparatus according to item (1), wherein calibration is performed by a method for confirming the above.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inspection apparatus, 2 ... Control part, 3 ... Display part, 10 ... Head holding housing, 10a ... Installation surface (reference | standard surface), 10b ... Step surface, 11 ... Inkjet head (head), 11b ... Collar part, 12 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Head holding part, 13 ... Recording medium, 14 ... Optical member, 15 ... Imaging part, 16 ... Optical member movable mechanism, 17 ... Imaging part movable mechanism, 20 ... Moving guide rail.

Claims (6)

An inspection apparatus that inspects an inkjet head of an image recording apparatus that discharges ink from a plurality of ink discharge ports formed in a row on an ink discharge surface and records an image of dots on a recording medium,
A head holding housing having a mounting surface for the inspection recording medium;
A head holding portion that is provided on the head holding housing and holds the inkjet head with the ink discharge surface parallel to the placement surface at an image recording position spaced above the placement surface;
Inserted along the row of the ink discharge ports in parallel between the opposing ink discharge surface and the mounting surface, the image of the ink discharge ports and the ink droplets discharged from the ink discharge ports An optical member having at least two reflecting surfaces for projecting an image of an inspection pattern recorded on a recording medium on the recording surface;
An optical member moving mechanism for retracting the optical member from between the ink ejection surface and the placement surface when ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium on the placement surface;
An imaging unit that simultaneously captures the image of the ink ejection port and the image of the dot projected from the optical member at the image recording position in one composition;
An imaging unit moving mechanism that moves the imaging unit beyond a maximum print width with a certain interval along the row of the ink ejection ports;
From the image data picked up by the image pickup unit moved by the image pickup unit moving mechanism, the positions of all ink discharge ports and the arrival positions of the ink droplets by the dots are calculated, and the ink discharge characteristics at all the ink discharge ports are calculated. A control unit to obtain;
An inspection apparatus for an inkjet head, comprising: The reflecting surface of the optical member has a two-surface prism shape including a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface,
At the time of imaging by the imaging unit, the prism-shaped point of the optical member is disposed at the midpoint position of the separation distance between the ink ejection surface and the placement surface at the image recording position,
Of the reflection surfaces, an image of the ink ejection port reflects the first reflection surface and is projected onto the imaging unit, and an image of the inspection pattern reflects the second reflection surface and reflects on the imaging unit. Projected,
2. The ink jet head inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each image is divided into two images in the same composition to be imaged.   The inkjet head inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the head holding unit holds the ink ejection surfaces at both ends of the row of the ink ejection ports in the inkjet head. The head holding unit further includes a head movable mechanism that raises the inkjet head to be held above the image recording position,
After the ink droplets of the recording medium are ejected at the image recording position to form the inspection pattern and then the inkjet head is raised, the head movable mechanism is configured so that the ink ejection surface and the placement surface are opposed to each other. The inkjet head inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical member is moved to a midpoint position. An inspection apparatus that inspects an inkjet head of an image recording apparatus that discharges ink from a plurality of ink discharge ports formed in a row on an ink discharge surface and records an image of dots on a recording medium,
A head holding housing having a mounting surface for the inspection recording medium;
A head holding portion that is provided on the head holding housing and holds the inkjet head with the ink discharge surface parallel to the placement surface at an image recording position spaced above the placement surface;
Inserted along the row of the ink discharge ports in parallel between the opposing ink discharge surface and the mounting surface, the image of the ink discharge ports and the ink droplets discharged from the ink discharge ports An optical member having at least two reflecting surfaces for projecting an image of an inspection pattern recorded on a recording medium on the recording surface;
An optical member moving mechanism for retracting the optical member from between the ink ejection surface and the placement surface when ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium on the placement surface;
An imaging unit that simultaneously captures the image of the ink ejection port and the image of the dot projected from the optical member at the image recording position in one composition;
The optical member moving mechanism and the imaging unit integrally, an optical member and an imaging unit movable unit that move the imaging unit beyond the maximum print width at a predetermined interval along the row of the ink discharge ports,
Ink ejection at all ink ejection ports is calculated from the image data captured by the imaging unit moved by the optical member and the imaging unit movable unit, and the positions of all ink ejection ports and the arrival positions of the ink droplets by the dots are calculated. A control unit for acquiring the characteristics of
An inspection apparatus for an inkjet head, comprising: An inspection apparatus that inspects an inkjet head of an image recording apparatus that discharges ink from a plurality of ink discharge ports formed in a row on an ink discharge surface and records an image of dots on a recording medium,
A head holding housing having a mounting surface for the inspection recording medium;
A head holding portion that is provided on the head holding housing and holds the inkjet head with the ink discharge surface parallel to the placement surface at an image recording position spaced above the placement surface;
A slit is provided between the opposing ink discharge surface and the mounting surface, and is inserted along the row of the ink discharge ports so as to allow ink droplets discharged from the ink discharge ports to pass therethrough. An optical member having at least two reflecting surfaces for projecting an image of an ink ejection port and an image of an inspection pattern recorded on a recording medium on the placement surface by ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection port;
An imaging unit that simultaneously captures the image of the ink ejection port and the image of the dot projected from the optical member at the image recording position in one composition;
An imaging unit movable mechanism that moves the imaging unit at regular intervals along the row of the ink ejection ports;
From the image data captured by the imaging unit moved by the imaging unit movable mechanism, the position of all ink ejection ports and the arrival position of the ink droplets by the dots are calculated, and the characteristics of ink ejection at all the ink ejection ports are calculated. A control unit to obtain;
An inspection apparatus for an inkjet head, comprising:

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