JP6042097B2 - Positioning method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a positioning method for positioning a nozzle in an inkjet recording apparatus including a recording head including a nozzle for ejecting ink.

  A technique related to an ink jet recording apparatus has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a head positioning method for a line-type ink jet recording apparatus. In this ink jet recording apparatus, the line head includes a plurality of heads. The line head is attached to a common support substrate that is attached to a frame of the ink jet recording apparatus by a fixing means such as a screw. In this method, the nozzle of the head is imaged with a camera. The imaged nozzle is displayed on the monitor. The target position of the imaged nozzle is displayed on the monitor. The head position is adjusted to bring the nozzle position displayed on the monitor closer to the target position. If the common support substrate is attached to the frame of the ink jet recording apparatus after the work is completed, good printing can be performed. Patent Document 2 proposes a technique related to a serial head type ink jet recording apparatus.

JP 2007-223196 A JP 2005-297554 A

  For example, according to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is considered that each of the individual head portions constituting the line type recording head can be accurately fixed to a plate such as a common support substrate. However, the plate on which the individual head portions are fixed with high accuracy must be attached to the carriage of the ink jet recording apparatus with high accuracy. If this plate cannot be attached to the carriage with high accuracy, it is considered that an image of a suitable quality cannot be recorded with the ink jet recording apparatus.

  The inventor studied the following configuration in consideration of the handling of the recording head in the ink jet recording apparatus. That is, let the plate to which the head part is fixed be a plurality of intermediate plates. Several head portions are fixed to the intermediate plate in a state where they are arranged at a predetermined interval to form a head module. The number of head portions fixed to the intermediate plate is appropriately set under various conditions. A plurality of head modules are attached to the carriage to form a recording head for one inkjet recording apparatus. At this time, the plurality of head modules are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the plurality of head portions are arranged. In such a configuration, in addition to fixing the head portion to the intermediate plate, positioning of the head module with respect to the carriage is important when the head module is attached to the carriage. If the head module is not properly positioned, the plurality of nozzles may not be disposed at a suitable position, and a positional shift may occur.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a positioning method capable of suitably positioning nozzles included in a recording head included in an ink jet recording apparatus.

One aspect of the present invention is an ink jet recording apparatus having a recording head including a nozzle for discharging ink, and a positioning method for positioning the nozzle, wherein a plurality of first nozzles for discharging ink are formed. The first head part and the second head part in which a plurality of second nozzles for discharging ink are formed are arranged at a predetermined interval and fixed to the first intermediate plate. A first attachment step of attaching a first head module, which is a part of the recording head, to a carriage on which the recording head is mounted, and the plurality of first parts included in the first head module attached to the carriage. of nozzles and the plurality of second nozzles, before the first reference nozzle reference that Do is displayed on the display unit captured by the first image pickup unit, mounted on the carriage Among the plurality of first nozzles and said plurality of second nozzles included in the first head module, the second reference nozzles as a reference and captured by the second imaging unit is displayed on the display unit, the In a state where the first reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, first position information is displayed at the position of the first reference nozzle, and in a state where the second reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, the second reference nozzle is displayed. Displaying the second position information at the position of the first imaging step, and imaging the first reference nozzle with the first imaging unit and imaging the second reference nozzle with the second imaging unit, The reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle are relative to the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit by a predetermined reference amount in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first head unit and the second head unit are arranged. Move, move process and eject ink A third head portion which the third nozzle number is formed, is formed and a fourth head portion in which a plurality of fourth nozzles are formed for ejecting ink, the fixed to the second intermediate plate, and The relative positions of the third head portion and the fourth head portion fixed to the second intermediate plate are the same as the relative positions of the first head portion and the second head portion in the first head module. been, the second head module which is another part of the recording head is attached to the carriage, and a second mounting step, wherein the said second mounting step is included in the second head module Among the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles, a third group in which the position in the second head module corresponds to the position of the first reference nozzle in the first head module. The quasi-nozzle is imaged by the first imaging unit relatively moved by the reference amount, the third reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the first position information, and the first Among the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles included in the second head module, the position in the second head module is the position of the second reference nozzle in the first head module. The corresponding fourth reference nozzle is imaged by the second imaging unit that is relatively moved by the reference amount together with the first imaging unit, and the fourth reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit is the second position. This is a positioning method performed in a state where the information is displayed corresponding to the information.

  According to this, the first head module so that the plurality of first nozzles and the plurality of third nozzles are positioned and the plurality of second nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles are positioned. And a second head module can be attached to the carriage. By the way, when the recording head is mounted on the carriage, the carriage and / or the structure supporting the carriage may bend and deform depending on the weight of the recording head. Further, depending on the temperature of the place where the inkjet recording apparatus is installed, each part such as the intermediate plate, the carriage and / or the structure supporting the carriage may thermally expand. Furthermore, when the ink jet recording apparatus is an apparatus that has already been operated, the carriage and / or the carriage is supported by the weight of the recording head and / or the temperature rise of the head portion accompanying the image recording, etc. Each part may be deformed over time.

  In such a case, for example, a positioning mechanism for positioning the first head module and the second head module is provided on the carriage, and the first head module and the second head module are provided on the carriage only by this positioning mechanism. When the head module is attached, the positioning reference may be shifted due to deformation, so the nozzle arrangement as described above may not be achieved. In this regard, according to the positioning method as described above, the first position information based on the first reference nozzle and the second position information based on the second reference nozzle are used as a reference for the third reference nozzle and the fourth reference nozzle. The second head module can be attached to the carriage while positioning. Therefore, the recording head can be suitably attached to the carriage regardless of the occurrence of the deformation as described above.

  This positioning method may be as follows. The positioning method is a method for positioning the nozzle in an inkjet recording apparatus including the line-type recording head, and the first attachment step includes the plurality of first types that discharge the first type of ink. The nozzle is in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction that coincides with the direction in which the recording medium on which the image is recorded by the inkjet recording apparatus, among the directions in which the first head portion and the second head portion are arranged. The first head part formed in an arrayed state, and the second head part formed in a state in which the plurality of second nozzles for discharging the second type of ink are arrayed in the second direction; Are attached to the carriage with the first head module formed fixed to the first intermediate plate in a state in which the first head module is arranged in the direction along the first direction at the predetermined interval. In the moving step, when the first image pickup unit images the first reference nozzle and the second image pickup unit images the second reference nozzle, the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle; The first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are relatively moved in the second direction by the reference amount, and the second attachment step includes the plurality of second nozzles that discharge the first type of ink. The third head part formed with three nozzles arranged in the second direction, and the plurality of fourth nozzles that eject the second type of ink are arranged in the second direction. The second head formed by being fixed to the second intermediate plate in a state where the fourth head portion formed in a state of being aligned with the predetermined interval in the direction along the first direction. Even in the process of attaching the head module to the carriage There.

  According to this, the plurality of first nozzles and the plurality of third nozzles are linearly arranged in the second direction, and the plurality of second nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles are linear in the second direction. Thus, the first head module and the second head module can be attached to the carriage so as to be in a state of being arranged in a regular manner. The line type recording head is larger in size than, for example, a serial type in which the recording head is reciprocated in the second direction. In this case, the recording head is easily affected by deformation caused by the weight of the recording head. However, according to the positioning method as described above, the third reference nozzle and the fourth reference nozzle are positioned based on the first position information based on the first reference nozzle and the second position information based on the second reference nozzle. While doing so, the second head module can be attached to the carriage. Therefore, even in the case of a line type recording head, the recording head can be suitably attached to the carriage regardless of the occurrence of the deformation as described above.

  In the reference determining step, one of the plurality of first nozzles formed in the first head portion is used as the first reference nozzle to pick up an image with the first image pickup portion, and the second head portion One of the plurality of formed second nozzles may be used as the second reference nozzle and imaged by the second imaging unit. According to this, the interval between the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle in the direction in which the first head portion and the second head portion are arranged can be widened. The positioning accuracy can be further improved.

  When an inkjet recording apparatus including a line-type recording head is a target, the reference determination step uses one of the plurality of first nozzles formed in the first head portion as the first reference nozzle. The first reference nozzle in the direction along the first direction and one of the plurality of second nozzles formed on the second head portion. You may make it image by said 2nd imaging part by making said 2nd nozzle formed on the same straight line into said 2nd reference nozzle. According to this, the interval between the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle in the direction along the first direction can be increased. The positioning accuracy can be further improved. In this case, the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are arranged on the same straight line in the direction along the first direction, and the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle are arranged in the first direction. An adjustment step for supporting the first reference nozzle at the base portion at an interval corresponding to the interval in the direction along the alignment. The step of picking up an image by the image pickup unit and displaying the image on the display unit, and the position of the first image pickup unit picked up by the first image pickup unit as a reference, the base unit in the direction along the first direction, Moving the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle in a direction from the second reference nozzle toward the first reference nozzle by a distance corresponding to an interval in the direction along the first direction; and the base After moving the part The first reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit is displayed on the display unit in a state corresponding to the first reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit and displayed on the display unit. And a step of supporting the second imaging unit on the base unit, wherein the first attachment step is imaged by the first imaging unit supported by the base unit in the adjustment step. The first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit supported by the base part in the adjustment step are performed in a state of being displayed on the display unit in the same state. You may do it. According to this, the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit can be smoothly brought into a state suitable for nozzle positioning. The first attachment step can be suitably performed by the adjusted first imaging unit and second imaging unit.

Another aspect of the present invention, the ink jet recording apparatus comprising a recording head including nozzles for ejecting ink, a positioning method for positioning the nozzle, fifth the fifth nozzle of multiple formed A carriage that is formed by fixing a head portion and a sixth head portion on which a plurality of sixth nozzles are formed at a predetermined interval to be fixed to an intermediate plate before replacement , and on which the recording head is mounted attached to, among the sixth nozzle of the fifth pre-Symbol plurality that is part of the replacement before the head module which is part nozzles and the plurality the recording head, the fifth reference nozzle reference that Do first An image is picked up by one image pickup unit and displayed on the display unit, and a second reference image of a reference sixth reference nozzle among the plurality of fifth nozzles and the plurality of sixth nozzles included in the pre-replacement head module is imaged. In the department The third position information is displayed at the position of the fifth reference nozzle while the fifth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, and the sixth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit. When viewing on, displaying the fourth position information on the position of the sixth reference nozzles, and the reference decision step, the exchange front head module is removed from the carriage, and detachment step, the number of the seventh double a seventh head portion in which the nozzles are formed, and the eighth head portion in which a plurality of eighth nozzles are formed, is formed by fixing the after replacing the intermediate plate and, fixed to the exchange after the intermediate plate And the relative position of the seventh head portion and the eighth head portion is the same as the relative position of the fifth head portion and the sixth head portion in the pre-replacement head module. Head module after replacement The Lumpur, anda replacement step of attaching to the position of the carriage where the pre-exchange head module is attached, the exchange step, the plurality of seventh nozzle and the plurality included in the head module after the replacement Among the eighth nozzles, the first imaging unit images the seventh reference nozzle whose position in the post-replacement head module corresponds to the position of the fifth reference nozzle in the pre-replacement head module, The seventh reference nozzle imaged by one imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the third position information, and the plurality of seventh nozzles and the plurality of eighth nozzles included in the head module after replacement Of these, the eighth reference nozzle whose position in the post-replacement head module corresponds to the position of the sixth reference nozzle in the pre-replacement head module Is a positioning method in which the eighth reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the fourth position information.

  According to this, the pre-replacement head module already attached to the carriage can be suitably replaced with a new post-replacement head module. For example, as described above, when each part of the ink jet recording apparatus is deformed, for example, a positioning mechanism for positioning the head module is provided on the carriage, and the pre-replacement head module is mounted only by this positioning mechanism. If the head module is replaced after replacement, the positioning reference is shifted due to deformation, and therefore, the positions of the nozzles included in the head module may not be the same before and after replacement. In this regard, according to the positioning method described above, the positioning reference is the fifth reference nozzle and the sixth reference nozzle in the head module before replacement. It can be replaced with a head module. Therefore, the positions of the plurality of nozzles included in the head module after replacement can be set to the same positions as the plurality of nozzles included in the head module before replacement. With the replacement, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the landing position or the like of the ink ejected from the nozzle changes and the quality of the recorded image changes. The head module before replacement and the head module after replacement are the same head module.

This positioning method may be as follows. The positioning method is a method for positioning the nozzle in an ink jet recording apparatus including the line type recording head, and the reference determining step includes the plurality of fifth nozzles that discharge the first type of ink. The fifth head portion formed in a state of being arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in which a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the ink jet recording apparatus is ejected, and a second type of ink is ejected The sixth head parts formed in a state in which the plurality of sixth nozzles are arranged in the second direction are arranged in the direction along the first direction at the predetermined interval, before replacement is formed by fixing the intermediate plate, and, among the sixth nozzle said before replacement before Symbol plurality that is part of the head module fifth nozzles and the plurality attached to said carriage, Display quasi preparative previous SL fifth reference nozzle ing on the display unit captured by the first imaging unit, the plurality of fifth nozzles and the plurality of sixth nozzles included in the exchange before head module The position of the fifth reference nozzle in a state where the sixth reference nozzle serving as a reference is imaged by the second imaging unit and displayed on the display unit, and the fifth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit. The third position information is displayed, and the sixth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, and the fourth position information is displayed at the position of the sixth reference nozzle . wherein the plurality of the plurality of seventh nozzles for discharging pre Symbol first type ink, for discharging said seventh head portion formed in a state of being arranged in the second direction, the second type of ink The eighth nozzles are arranged in the second direction. And made the the eighth head portion, in a state in which side-by-side at the predetermined intervals in a direction along the first direction, the replacement after head module formed by fixing the exchange after the intermediate plate, wherein It may be a step of attaching to the position of the carriage where the pre-replacement head module was attached . According to this, it is possible to preferably replace the head module for a large recording head such as a line type recording head.

  Here, the correspondence in the two types of positioning methods described above is as follows. That is, the “head module before replacement” corresponds to either the “first head module” or the “second head module”. When the “head module before replacement” corresponds to the “first head module”, the “fifth nozzle” is the “first nozzle”, the “fifth head portion” is the “first head portion”, “ The “sixth nozzle” corresponds to the “second nozzle”, the “sixth head part” corresponds to the “second head part”, and the “intermediate plate before replacement” corresponds to the “first intermediate plate”. The “fifth reference nozzle” corresponds to the “first reference nozzle”, and the “sixth reference nozzle” corresponds to the “second reference nozzle”. “Third position information” corresponds to “first position information”, and “fourth position information” corresponds to “second position information”. When the “head module before replacement” corresponds to the “second head module”, the “fifth nozzle” is the “third nozzle”, the “fifth head portion” is the “third head portion”, “ The “sixth nozzle” corresponds to the “fourth nozzle”, the “sixth head part” corresponds to the “fourth head part”, and the “pre-replacement intermediate plate” corresponds to the “second intermediate plate”. The “fifth reference nozzle” corresponds to the “third reference nozzle”, and the “sixth reference nozzle” corresponds to the “fourth reference nozzle”.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the positioning method which can perform the positioning of the nozzle contained in the recording head with which an inkjet recording device is provided can be obtained.

It is a figure which shows an example of an inkjet recording device. It is a figure which shows an example of the inkjet recording device of the state in which all the head modules were attached to the carriage in the observation part. It is a figure explaining a recording head, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the discharge surface of the recording head in a recording part. It is a figure which shows an example of an observation part. It is a figure explaining the 1st process of a positioning method. The upper part is a diagram for explaining the adjustment of the first imaging unit. The lower part is a diagram for explaining the adjustment of the second imaging unit. It is a figure explaining the 2nd process of the positioning method. An upper stage is a figure explaining a 1st attachment process. The lower part is a diagram for explaining the reference determination process. It is a figure explaining the 4th process of a positioning method. The upper part is a diagram for explaining a state before adjustment in the fourth step. The lower part is a diagram for explaining the state after adjustment in the fourth step.

  Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the configurations described below, and various configurations can be employed in the same technical idea. For example, some of the configurations shown below may be omitted or replaced with other configurations. Moreover, you may make it include another structure.

<Inkjet recording apparatus>
The ink jet recording apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the inkjet recording apparatus 10, ink is ejected onto the recording medium 12 in accordance with the input image data, and an image corresponding to the input image data is recorded. In FIG. 1, the cross pattern applied to the recording medium 12 that has passed through the recording unit 40 in the first direction indicates an image recorded on the recording medium 12. For example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black inks are used for image recording. In addition to these four colors, light yellow, light magenta, light cyan, and / or clear, which are light colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, may be used for image recording. In the present embodiment, four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black will be described as examples of ink colors used for image recording. Examples of the recording medium 12 include industrial materials used in processing production in addition to recording paper. Industrial materials include strip-shaped fabrics or long-length fabrics (see FIG. 1), various building materials, and the like. Examples of the fabric include fiber knitted fabrics made of various materials.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a transport unit 20, a recording unit 40, a first moving unit 70, an observation unit 80, a maintenance unit 100, and a control device 110. The transport unit 20 transports the recording medium 12 placed on the transport surface 21 at a position upstream of the transport unit 20 to the downstream side of the transport unit 20. The conveyance of the recording medium 12 by the conveyance unit 20 is continuously performed. The direction (transport direction) in which the recording medium 12 is transported is referred to as “first direction”. The conveyance unit 20 is configured by a conveyance mechanism such as a belt conveyor, for example. The conveyance unit 20 is the same as the conveyance unit included in the already-introduced inkjet recording apparatus. The other description regarding the conveyance part 20 is abbreviate | omitted.

  The recording unit 40 ejects ink of each color onto the recording medium 12 conveyed by the conveying unit 20 and records an image. When an image is recorded in the inkjet recording apparatus 10, the recording unit 40 is disposed at the position shown in FIG. 1. The recording unit 40 includes a carriage 41 and a recording head 42. A recording head 42 is mounted on the carriage 41. The recording head 42 is a line type recording head including a nozzle 44 that ejects ink. In a state where the recording head 42 is mounted on the carriage 41, the nozzles 44 included in the recording head 42 exist in a range equal to or larger than the width of the recording medium 12 in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The second direction coincides with the width direction of the recording medium 12. Other points regarding the recording head 42 will be described later.

  The first moving unit 70 moves the carriage 41 in the second direction. For example, when a positioning method to be described later is performed, the first moving unit 70 moves the carriage 41 to a position where the observation unit 80 is provided. During the execution of the positioning method, the first moving unit 70 moves the carriage 41 by a predetermined distance (see “dimension W” shown in FIG. 3) at a predetermined timing. When the recording head 42 is mounted on the carriage 41 by the positioning method, the carriage 41 is arranged at the position shown in FIG. 2 by the first moving unit 70. In addition, when the maintenance described later is performed on the recording unit 40, the first moving unit 70 moves the carriage 41 (recording unit 40) to a position where the maintenance unit 100 is provided. The 1st moving part 70 moves the recording part 40 arrange | positioned in each position of the observation part 80 or the maintenance part 100 to the position shown in FIG.

  The first moving unit 70 includes, for example, a slide mechanism 71 and a drive unit 77. The slide mechanism 71 includes, for example, a ball screw 72 and linear guides 75 and 76. The recording unit 40 is fixed to the nut portion 73 of the ball screw 72 and supported by the linear guides 75 and 76 on the top portion of the carriage 41 (the portion opposite to the discharge surface 45 (see FIG. 3)). Is done. The drive unit 77 is a drive source for rotating the screw shaft 74 of the ball screw 72 in both the left and right directions and moving the recording unit 40 in the second direction. The drive unit 77 includes, for example, a motor. When the drive unit 77 rotates in a predetermined direction, the screw shaft 74 rotates in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the drive unit 77. The nut portion 73 moves in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the screw shaft 74 in the second direction. The recording unit 40 moves while being guided by the linear guides 75 and 76 as the nut unit 73 moves.

  The observation unit 80 is configured to position the nozzles 44 included in the recording head 42. In this embodiment, the observation part 80 is provided in the predetermined position between the conveyance part 20 and the maintenance part 100, as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. Other points regarding the observation unit 80 will be described later. The maintenance unit 100 performs maintenance on the recording head 42. Maintenance is performed, for example, when an abnormality occurs in the ink ejection state and when the positioning method is completed. When maintenance is performed, the recording unit 40 is moved by the first moving unit 70 to a position where the maintenance unit 100 is provided. In the maintenance unit 100, for example, the ejection surface 45 (see FIG. 3) is cleaned. The ejection surface 45 is a surface where the nozzles 44 are formed in the recording head 42. The ejection surface 45 faces the transport surface 21 (the recording surface of the transported recording medium 12). In cleaning, ink of each color is forcibly ejected from the nozzles 44 included in the recording head 42. This discharge is performed, for example, for the purpose of eliminating air clogging and the like. In addition, the maintenance unit 100 records a test pattern on the inspection medium, and inspects the ink ejection state according to the recorded test pattern. The test pattern is recorded at a predetermined timing when the image is recorded on the recording medium 12. When the positioning method is completed, a test pattern may be recorded to confirm that the recording head 42 is appropriately mounted on the carriage 41. When the maintenance is completed, the recording unit 40 is returned to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 by the first moving unit 70. Thereafter, in the ink jet recording apparatus 10, for example, conveyance of the recording medium 12 is started, and image recording on the recording medium 12 is executed.

  The control device 110 includes, for example, a control unit 111, a storage unit 112, an operation unit 113, and a display unit 114. The control unit 111 controls various processes executed by the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The control unit 111 includes, for example, a CPU and a memory. The storage unit 112 is a storage device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 112 is installed with computer programs for various processes performed by the inkjet recording apparatus 10. Various data are stored in the storage unit 112. The operation unit 113 is a user interface for inputting a predetermined instruction to the control device 110. The display unit 114 displays various information. The display unit 114 includes a display area 115 and a display area 116. The display area 115 is an area where an image captured by the first imaging unit 81 included in the observation unit 80 is displayed. The display area 116 is an area in which an image captured by the second imaging unit 82 included in the observation unit 80 is displayed.

  The control unit 111 executes a computer program stored in the storage unit 112. Specifically, the CPU included in the control unit 111 reads a computer program for predetermined processing from the storage unit 112 and executes it using the memory. For example, in the positioning method described later, the CPU captures an image captured by the observation unit 80 (the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82) on the display unit 114 (display areas 115 and 116), and first position information. A process for displaying 117 and second position information 118 (see the lower part of FIG. 6 and the like) is executed. When the displayed image is changed (see the third step of the positioning step), the CPU displays the first position information 117 and the second position information 118 on the display unit 114 (display areas 115 and 116) before and after the change. Control to display at the same position. In this way, various functions are realized. That is, the control unit 111 constitutes various functional units.

<Recording head>
The recording head 42 will be described with reference to FIG. The recording head 42 is formed by integrating a plurality of head modules. In the present embodiment, the recording head 42 is formed by four head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49. That is, each of the head modules 46, 47, 48 and 49 forms part of the recording head 42. Each of the head modules 46, 47, 48 and 49 is attached to the carriage 41. The head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are attached to the carriage 41 by performing a positioning method described later. The number of head modules forming the recording head 42 is appropriately determined under various conditions. The number of head modules forming the recording head 42 may be other than four (1 / color). For example, the number may be two per color, and may be a total of eight (four colors). In addition, a plurality of head modules may be provided as one set, and two or more sets may be provided side by side in the direction along the first direction. In this case, each step of the positioning method described later is appropriately performed for each group.

  The head module 46 includes an intermediate plate 50 and head portions 51, 52, 53, 54. The head module 46 is formed by fixing the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 to the intermediate plate 50. The head portions 51, 52, 53, and 54 are provided side by side at a predetermined interval. The direction in which the head portions 51, 52, 53, and 54 are arranged is a direction along the first direction (including both the first direction and the opposite direction (the direction from the downstream side to the upstream side)). The head unit 51 is a yellow head unit. The head unit 52 is a magenta head unit. The head unit 53 is a cyan head unit. The head portion 54 is a black head portion. A plurality of nozzles 44 for ejecting ink of the corresponding color is formed in each of the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 for each color. Regarding the arrangement of the plurality of nozzles 44, in the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54, two nozzle rows are formed along the first direction by the nozzles 44 arranged in the second direction. The number of nozzles 44 per row and the number of rows may be different from those in FIG. The number of nozzles 44 per row and the number of rows are appropriately determined under various conditions. When colors other than yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are used for image recording, the head module 46 includes head portions of colors other than those described above (the same applies to the head modules 47, 48, and 49).

  The head module 47 includes an intermediate plate 55 and head portions 56, 57, 58 and 59. The head module 47 is formed by fixing the head portions 56, 57, 58 and 59 to the intermediate plate 55. The head portions 56, 57, 58, 59 are provided side by side at a predetermined interval. The direction in which the head portions 56, 57, 58, 59 are arranged is a direction along the first direction. The intervals between the head portions 56, 57, 58, 59 are the same as those of the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 in the head module 46. The head portion 56 is a yellow head portion. The head portion 57 is a magenta head portion. The head portion 58 is a cyan head portion. The head part 59 is a black head part. A plurality of nozzles 44 for ejecting ink of the corresponding color is formed in each of the head portions 56, 57, 58, 59 for each color. The arrangement of the plurality of nozzles 44 is the same as that of the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 in the head module 46. The description regarding this is omitted.

  The head module 48 includes an intermediate plate 60 and head portions 61, 62, 63, 64. The head module 48 is formed by fixing the head portions 61, 62, 63, 64 to the intermediate plate 60. The head portions 61, 62, 63, and 64 are provided side by side at a predetermined interval. The direction in which the head portions 61, 62, 63, and 64 are arranged is a direction along the first direction. The distance between the head portions 61, 62, 63, 64 is the same as that of the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 in the head module 46. The head unit 61 is a yellow head unit. The head unit 62 is a magenta head unit. The head part 63 is a cyan head part. The head part 64 is a black head part. A plurality of nozzles 44 for ejecting ink of the corresponding color is formed in each of the head portions 61, 62, 63, 64 for each color. The arrangement of the plurality of nozzles 44 is the same as that of the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 in the head module 46. The description regarding this is omitted.

  The head module 49 includes an intermediate plate 65 and head portions 66, 67, 68 and 69. The head module 49 is formed by fixing the head portions 66, 67, 68 and 69 to the intermediate plate 65. The head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 are provided side by side at a predetermined interval. The direction in which the head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 are arranged is a direction along the first direction. The intervals between the head portions 66, 67, 68 and 69 are the same as those of the head portions 51, 52, 53 and 54 in the head module 46. The head portion 66 is a yellow head portion. The head part 67 is a magenta head part. The head unit 68 is a cyan head unit. The head part 69 is a black head part. A plurality of nozzles 44 for ejecting ink of the corresponding color is formed in each of the head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 for each color. The arrangement of the plurality of nozzles 44 is the same as that of the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 in the head module 46. The description regarding this is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the nozzle 44 that discharges yellow ink formed in each of the yellow head portions 51, 56, 61, and 66 is referred to as a “nozzle 44Y”. The nozzle 44 that discharges magenta ink formed on the magenta head portions 52, 57, 62, and 67 is referred to as a “nozzle 44M”. The nozzles 44 that discharge cyan ink formed on the cyan head portions 53, 58, 63, and 68, respectively, are referred to as “nozzles 44C”. The nozzles 44 that discharge the black ink formed on the black head portions 54, 59, 64, and 69, respectively, are referred to as “nozzles 44K”. When the ink colors are not distinguished, or when the nozzles 44Y, 44M, 44C, and 44K are not distinguished or collectively referred to as “nozzle 44”.

  The intermediate plates 50, 55, 60, 65 have a common shape. The head portions 51, 52, 53, 54, the head portions 56, 57, 58, 59, the head portions 61, 62, 63, 64, and the head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 all have the same shape. (The same applies to the nozzle 44). Each arrangement of the head parts 51, 52, 53, 54 with respect to the intermediate plate 50, each arrangement of the head parts 56, 57, 58, 59 with respect to the intermediate plate 55, and each of the head parts 61, 62, 63, 64 with respect to the intermediate plate 60 Each arrangement and the arrangement of the head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 with respect to the intermediate plate 65 are all the same. Therefore, the relative positions of the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 in the head module 46, the relative positions of the head portions 56, 57, 58, 59 in the head module 47, and the head portions 61, 62, 63, The relative positions of 64 and the relative positions of the head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 in the head module 49 are the same. As shown in FIG. 3, when the intermediate plates 50, 55, 60, 65 are attached to the carriage 41 in a state aligned in the second direction, the yellow head portions 51, 56, 61, 66 are Arranged linearly in the direction. Similarly, the magenta head portions 52, 57, 62, and 67 are linearly arranged in the second direction. The cyan head portions 53, 58, 63, and 68 are linearly arranged in the second direction. The black head portions 54, 59, 64, and 69 are linearly arranged in the second direction.

  At this time, in each of the head portions 51, 56, 61, and 66, the nozzle row formed on the upstream side in the first direction with respect to the nozzle row by the nozzles 44 </ b> Y arranged in the second direction is an imaginary straight line in the second direction. Arranged on LA. The nozzle rows formed on the downstream side in the first direction are arranged on a virtual straight line LB in the second direction. In each of the head portions 52, 57, 62, and 67, regarding the nozzle row by the nozzles 44M arranged in the second direction, the nozzle row formed on the upstream side in the first direction is on the virtual straight line LC in the second direction. Arranged. The nozzle rows formed on the downstream side in the first direction are arranged on a virtual straight line LD in the second direction. In each of the head portions 53, 58, 63, and 68, regarding the nozzle row by the nozzles 44C arranged in the second direction, the nozzle row formed on the upstream side in the first direction is on the virtual straight line LE in the second direction. Arranged. The nozzle rows formed on the downstream side in the first direction are arranged on a virtual straight line LF in the second direction. In each of the head portions 54, 59, 64, and 69, with respect to the nozzle row by the nozzles 44K arranged in the second direction, the nozzle row formed on the upstream side in the first direction is on the virtual straight line LG in the second direction. Arranged. The nozzle rows formed on the downstream side in the first direction are arranged on a virtual straight line LH in the second direction.

  In the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49, two nozzles 44 among the plurality of nozzles 44 included therein are used as reference nozzles in a positioning method that will be described later. In the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49, the two reference nozzles are appropriately set in consideration of nozzle positioning accuracy. However, the relative positional relationship between the two reference nozzles set in the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 is common among the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49. In the present embodiment, among the virtual straight lines LA to LH, the first nozzle 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA and the first side nozzle in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LH. 44K will be described as two reference nozzles in each of the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49.

  Regarding the two reference nozzles in the head module 46, the first-side nozzles 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA are referred to as “first reference nozzles 441”, and the first nozzles arranged on the virtual straight line LH. The nozzle 44K on the first side in the two directions is referred to as a “second reference nozzle 442”. Regarding the two reference nozzles in each of the head modules 47, 48, and 49, the first side nozzle 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA is referred to as a “third reference nozzle 443”, and the virtual straight line LH. The nozzles 44K on the first side in the second direction arranged above are referred to as “fourth reference nozzles 444”. The first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442 are nozzles 44 formed on the same straight line in the direction along the first direction. The third reference nozzle 443 and the fourth reference nozzle 444 are nozzles 44 formed on the same straight line in the direction along the first direction. The positional relationship in the second direction and the direction along the first direction of the third reference nozzle 443 and the fourth reference nozzle 444 is the same as that of the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442. In FIG. 3, the first reference nozzle 441, the second reference nozzle 442, the third reference nozzle 443, and the fourth reference nozzle 444 are all “black circles”.

  The yellow head portions 51, 56, 61, and 66 are connected to an ink tank (not shown) that stores yellow ink, respectively, via a yellow flow path (not shown). The yellow ink flows out of the yellow ink tank, flows through the yellow flow path, and is supplied to the head portions 51, 56, 61, and 66, respectively. The magenta head portions 52, 57, 62, and 67 are respectively connected to an ink tank (not shown) that stores magenta ink via a magenta flow path (not shown). The magenta ink flows out of the magenta ink tank, flows through the magenta flow path, and is supplied to the head portions 52, 57, 62, and 67, respectively. The cyan head portions 53, 58, 63, and 68 are respectively connected to an ink tank (not shown) that stores cyan ink via a cyan flow path (not shown). The cyan ink flows out of the cyan ink tank, flows through the cyan flow path, and is supplied to the head portions 53, 58, 63, and 68, respectively. The black head portions 54, 59, 64, and 69 are connected to an ink tank (not shown) that stores black ink via a black flow path (not shown). The black ink flows out of the black ink tank, flows through the black channel, and is supplied to the head portions 54, 59, 64, and 69, respectively.

<Observation part>
The observation unit 80 will be described with reference to FIG. The observation unit 80 includes a first imaging unit 81, a second imaging unit 82, a base unit 83, and a second moving unit 87. The first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 include a CCD. When the carriage 41 is arranged at the position where the observation unit 80 is provided by the first moving unit 70, the first imaging unit 81 has the ejection surface 45 by the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 attached to the carriage 41. A part of the range is imaged. In the case described above, the second imaging unit 82 images the other part of the range of the ejection surface 45 by the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49. The base part 83 is attached to the second moving part 87. The base portion 83 is provided with support portions 85 and 86. The support portions 85 and 86 are provided on the base portion 83 so that the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are arranged according to the relative positional relationship between the two reference nozzles described above. The first imaging unit 81 is attached and fixed to the support unit 85. A second imaging unit 82 is attached and fixed to the support unit 86. Thereby, the base part 83 will be in the state which each supported the 1st imaging part 81 and the 2nd imaging part 82 in each position in which the support parts 85 and 86 were provided.

  For example, in the head module 46, according to the present embodiment in which the two reference nozzles are the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442, the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are shown in FIG. As shown, it is linearly arranged with a dimension H in the direction along the first direction. The dimension H is an interval between the virtual straight line LA where the first reference nozzle 441 is arranged and the virtual straight line LH where the second reference nozzle 442 is arranged (“dimension H” shown in FIG. 3) in the direction along the first direction. Match). Therefore, when the first imaging unit 81 captures the first reference nozzle 441 or the third reference nozzle 443 as a partial range of the ejection surface 45 with the support unit 85 supporting the second imaging unit 82. The second reference nozzle 442 or the fourth reference nozzle 444 can be imaged as another partial range of the ejection surface 45 while being supported by the support portion 86.

  The second moving part 87 moves the base part 83 in a direction along the first direction. The second moving unit 87 includes, for example, a slide mechanism 88 and a driving unit 93. The slide mechanism 88 includes, for example, a ball screw 89 and linear guides 91 and 92. The base portion 83 is fixed to a nut portion (not shown) of the ball screw 89 and supported by the linear guides 91 and 92. The drive unit 93 is a drive source for rotating the screw shaft 90 of the ball screw 89 in both the left and right directions and moving the base unit 83 in the direction along the first direction. The drive unit 93 includes, for example, a motor. When the drive unit 93 rotates in a predetermined direction, the screw shaft 90 rotates in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the drive unit 93. The nut portion of the ball screw 89 moves in a direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the screw shaft 90 in the direction along the first direction. The base portion 83 moves while being guided by the linear guides 91 and 92 as the nut portion of the ball screw 89 moves. The moving directions by the first moving unit 70 and the second moving unit 87 are orthogonal to each other.

<Positioning method>
The positioning method will be described with reference to FIGS. The positioning method is a method for positioning the nozzle 44. The positioning method is performed when head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are newly attached to the carriage 41. According to the positioning method, the recording head 42 is mounted on the carriage 41 in the state shown in FIG. Prior to performing the positioning method, head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are prepared. That is, the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 are fixed in a state of being positioned with respect to the intermediate plate 50 by a predetermined method using a predetermined device, and the head module 46 is prepared. Similarly, the head portions 56, 57, 58, and 59 are fixed in a state of being positioned with respect to the intermediate plate 55, and the head module 47 is prepared. The head portions 61, 62, 63, 64 are fixed in a state of being positioned with respect to the intermediate plate 60, and the head module 48 is prepared. The head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 are fixed in a state of being positioned with respect to the intermediate plate 65, and the head module 49 is prepared.

  The prepared head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are respectively placed on the carriage 41 at a predetermined timing. For example, the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are placed on the carriage 41 at the start of the positioning method. In addition, at the start of the positioning method, the head module 46 to be mounted first is placed in the first mounting step of the second step which will be described later. The head modules 47, 48 and 49 may be placed. The head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 placed on the carriage 41 are temporarily fixed to the carriage 41. For example, the temporary fixing may be performed in a state where the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are substantially positioned on the carriage 41. A specific example of a temporary fixing method will be described. In this description, it is assumed that the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are attached to the carriage 41 by screwing. Through holes are provided at predetermined positions of the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49. The through hole is a hole having a diameter larger than that of the screw to be used. When each of the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 is disposed on the carriage 41, screw holes are provided at predetermined positions corresponding to the through holes provided in the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49, respectively. Is provided. The screw is passed through the through hole, and the tip of the screw that has passed through the through hole is screwed into the screw hole by a predetermined amount that allows the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 to move relative to the carriage 41. According to such a configuration, the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 can be temporarily fixed to the carriage 41 in a state where the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 can move by the gap between the screw and the through hole. . The attachment of the head module 46 to the carriage 41 in the first attachment step of the second step and the attachment of the head modules 47, 48, and 49 to the carriage 41 in the fourth step are performed by a method other than screwing. Also good. In this case, temporary fixing is also performed by a different method as appropriate.

  The positioning method includes a first process to a fourth process. In the positioning method, the third step and the fourth step are repeated according to the number of head modules forming the recording head 42. According to the present embodiment taking four head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 as examples, the head modules 47, 48, and 49 are each implemented. Therefore, the third step and the fourth step are repeated three times.

  The first step relates to the arrangement of the first imaging unit 81 supported by the support unit 85 and the second imaging unit 82 supported by the support unit 86, and positions the direction along the first direction and the position in the second direction. It is a process (adjustment process). The first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are adjusted so as to be in parallel with a dimension H in the direction along the first direction without shifting in the second direction. This positioning is performed by adjusting the other position on the basis of one of the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82. In the present embodiment, the first imaging unit 81 is used as a reference. At the start of the first step, the first imaging unit 81 is supported by the support unit 85. The second imaging unit 82 is temporarily fixed to the support unit 86. For example, imaging at the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 is started at this timing.

  The operator operates the first moving unit 70 and / or the second moving unit 87 so that the first imaging unit 81 moves to a position facing the first reference nozzle 441. The first imaging unit 81 that has moved to the above-described position images the first reference nozzle 441. The first reference nozzle 441 imaged by the first imaging unit 81 is displayed in the display area 115 of the display unit 114. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 5, the operator matches the center of the display area 115 (see the intersection of the straight line L1 and the straight line L2) with the center of the first reference nozzle 441 (see the intersection of the straight line L3 and the straight line L4). To operate. A predetermined image captured by the temporarily fixed second imaging unit 82 is displayed in the display area 116. In the upper part of FIG. 5, illustration of a predetermined image captured by the second imaging unit 82 is omitted. When the first reference nozzle 441 is displayed in the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 5 in the display area 115, the operator drives the second moving part 87 and the base part 83 is opposite to the first direction. Operate to move in the direction. The amount of movement (distance) is the dimension H. The direction opposite to the first direction in which the base part 83 is moved is also the direction from the second reference nozzle 442 toward the first reference nozzle 441 among the directions along the first direction.

  The operator confirms the image captured by the second imaging unit 82 and displayed in the display area 116 of the display unit 114. When the image displayed in the display area 116 is in a state different from the above-described upper stage in FIG. 5, the operator adjusts the attachment of the second imaging unit 82 to the support unit 86. That is, the operator confirms the display area 116, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 5, and the center of the display area 116 (see the intersection of the straight lines L5 and L6) and the center of the first reference nozzle 441 (straight lines L3 and Adjustment is made so that the intersections of the straight lines L4 coincide). In the lower part of FIG. 5, when the attachment of the second imaging unit 82 is adjusted, illustration regarding a predetermined image captured by the first imaging unit 81 is omitted. Straight lines L1 to L6 (the same applies to straight lines L7 and L8 described later) are shown for ease of explanation. Actually, these straight lines may not be displayed (the same applies to FIGS. 6 and 7).

  When the second imaging unit 82 faces the first reference nozzle 441 and the first reference nozzle 441 is displayed on the display area 116 in a state as shown in the lower part of FIG. The second imaging unit 82 is permanently fixed to the support unit 86. Thereby, the second imaging unit 82 is parallel to the first imaging unit 81 in the direction along the first direction without shifting in the second direction, and the dimension H from the first imaging unit 81 in the first direction is set. It is supported by the support part 86 in a separated state. As the second imaging unit 82 is permanently fixed, the first process ends, and the positioning method shifts to the second process. When the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is an inkjet recording apparatus including the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 that have an appropriate positional relationship (arrangement), the first step may be omitted.

  The second process includes a first attachment process and a reference determination process. The first attachment process is a process of attaching the head module 46 to the carriage 41. The head module 46 is preferably attached to the position shown in FIG. 3 by the first attachment process, and the nozzles 44 formed in the head portions 51, 52, 53, 54 are designed in designing the recording head 42. It is suitably arranged at the position in a positioned state. The reference determination step is a step of displaying the first position information 117 on the display area 115 and displaying the second position information 118 on the display area 116. The reference determination step is performed after the head module 46 is attached to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state in the first attachment step. In the reference determination step, the first position information 117 is displayed at a predetermined position in the display area 115 where the first reference nozzle 441 is displayed. The second position information 118 is displayed at a predetermined position in the display area 116 where the second reference nozzle 442 is displayed.

  As the first position information 117, an electronic marker having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the first reference nozzle 441 is exemplified. As the second position information 118, an electronic marker having a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the second reference nozzle 442 is exemplified. The first position information 117 and the second position information 118 may be translucent electronic markers. As described later, when the first position information 117 and the first reference nozzle 441 or the third reference nozzle 443 captured by the first imaging unit 81 are displayed in a partially overlapping state (see the upper part of FIG. 7), The first reference nozzle 441 or the third reference nozzle 443 that partially overlaps the first position information 117 can be suitably viewed. When the second position information 118 and the second reference nozzle 442 or the fourth reference nozzle 444 imaged by the second imaging unit 82 are displayed in a partially overlapping state (see the upper part of FIG. 7), the second position information 118 is displayed. The second reference nozzle 442 or the fourth reference nozzle 444 that partially overlaps with each other can be suitably viewed. In the present embodiment, the first position information 117 is illustrated as a circle having the same outer shape as the first reference nozzle 441 (third reference nozzle 443) and the inside thereof as a halftone dot. The second position information 118 is illustrated as a circle having the same outer shape as the second reference nozzle 442 (fourth reference nozzle 444) and the inside thereof as a halftone dot.

  At the start of the second process, it is assumed that the base 83 is arranged at a position where the second imaging unit 82 and the first reference nozzle 441 face each other, as in the case of the first process described above. In this case, the operator operates the second moving portion 87 to drive the base portion 83 in the first direction when starting the second step. The amount of movement in the first direction is the dimension H. Subsequently, the operator adjusts the attachment position with respect to the carriage 41 for the temporarily fixed head module 46. At this time, the operator is in a state where the first reference nozzle 441 imaged by the first imaging unit 81 is displayed in the display area 115 and the second reference nozzle 442 imaged by the second imaging unit 82 is displayed in the display area 116. Make adjustments so that the status displayed on is the same. For example, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 6, the operator has a single center of the display area 115 (see the intersection of the straight line L1 and the straight line L2) and the center of the first reference nozzle 441 (see the intersection of the straight line L3 and the straight line L4). Then, the center of the display area 116 (refer to the intersection of the straight line L5 and the straight line L6) and the center of the second reference nozzle 442 (refer to the intersection of the straight line L7 and the straight line L8) are adjusted. Although not described above, the recording unit 40 includes an adjustment mechanism for finely adjusting the positions of the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 with respect to the carriage 41. It is provided for each. The aforementioned adjustment is performed by operating an adjustment mechanism provided for the head module 46. When the first reference nozzle 441 is displayed in the display area 115 and the second reference nozzle 442 is displayed in the display area 116 in the state shown in the upper part of FIG. 6, the worker is temporarily fixed. The head module 46 is attached to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state (first attachment step).

  The control unit 111 displays the first position information 117 at the position of the first reference nozzle 441 displayed in the display area 115 and the second reference nozzle 442 displayed in the display area 116 as shown in the lower part of FIG. Control is performed so that the second position information 118 is displayed at the position (reference determination step). Control relating to the display of the first position information 117 and the second position information 118 is performed as follows, for example. The operator operates the operation unit 113 and inputs a predetermined instruction to the position where the first reference nozzle 441 is displayed in the display area 115. The operator operates the operation unit 113 and inputs a predetermined instruction again to the position where the second reference nozzle 442 is displayed in the display area 116. For this input, a device such as a mouse included in the operation unit 113 is used. The control unit 111 displays the first position information 117 at the position where the instruction corresponding to the first reference nozzle 441 is input, and the second position information at the position where the instruction corresponding to the second reference nozzle 442 is input. 118 is displayed. When the display position of the first position information 117 does not coincide with the first reference nozzle 441, the operator operates the operation unit 113 such as a mouse to finely adjust the position of the first position information 117. Similarly, when the display position of the second position information 118 does not coincide with the second reference nozzle 442, the operator operates the operation unit 113 such as a mouse to finely adjust the position of the second position information 118. To do.

  In addition, the above-described control in the reference determination step is performed by executing predetermined image processing on image data corresponding to each image captured by the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82. May be. In this case, the control unit 111 performs image processing on the image data captured by the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82, respectively, and from each image data, the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle Each nozzle 442 is extracted. The controller 111 performs control so that the first position information 117 is displayed at the extracted position of the first reference nozzle 441 and the second position information 118 is displayed at the position of the extracted second reference nozzle 442. As shown in the lower part of FIG. 6, when the first position information 117 is displayed at the position of the first reference nozzle 441 and the second position information 118 is displayed at the position of the second reference nozzle 442, the second process is completed. The positioning method proceeds to the third step.

  In the third step, the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442, or the third reference nozzle 443 and the fourth reference nozzle 444, the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 in the second direction, This is a step of moving relative to a predetermined reference amount (moving step). Hereinafter, the third process after the second process for the head module 46 is described as an example. In the present embodiment, the head module 47 is disposed on the second side in the second direction with respect to the head module 46 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the relative movement is performed such that the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are on the second side in the second direction with respect to the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442, for example. . The reference amount is a dimension W (see FIG. 3). The dimension W corresponds to the interval between the first reference nozzle 441 and the third reference nozzle 443 in the head module 47 (the interval between the second reference nozzle 442 and the fourth reference nozzle 444 in the head module 47) in the second direction. . In the recording head 42 of the present embodiment, the interval between the third reference nozzle 443 (fourth reference nozzle 444) in the head module 47 and the third reference nozzle 443 (fourth reference nozzle 444) in the head module 48, and The distance between the third reference nozzle 443 (fourth reference nozzle 444) in the head module 48 and the third reference nozzle 443 (fourth reference nozzle 444) in the head module 49 is also the dimension W.

  The operator operates the first moving unit 70 so that the carriage 41 moves in the second direction from the second side to the first side by a reference amount. Accordingly, the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are on the second side in the second direction with respect to the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442. The first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 face the head module 47. At the timing when the carriage 41 moves in the second direction from the second side to the first side by the reference amount, the third step ends, and the positioning method shifts to the fourth step.

  The fourth step is a step of attaching the head modules 47, 48, and 49 to the carriage 41, respectively. Each time the fourth step is repeatedly performed, the head modules 47, 48, 49 are sequentially suitably attached to the positions shown in FIG. 3, and the head portions 56, 57, 58, 59, the head portions 61, 62, The nozzles 44 formed respectively on the head portions 66, 67 and the head portions 66, 67, 68, 69 are suitably arranged in a positioned state at the design positions when the recording head 42 is designed. In the fourth step, the head modules 47, 48, and 49 are attached to the carriage 41 with reference to the first position information 117 and the second position information 118, as will be described later. Therefore, the fourth step for attaching the head modules 47, 48, and 49 to the carriage 41 can also be referred to as a second attachment step that is performed after the first attachment step for attaching the head module 46 to the carriage 41. Below, a 4th process is demonstrated for the head module 47. FIG.

  In the fourth step, the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 capture a partial range of the ejection surface 45 by the facing head module 47 at each position where the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are arranged. To do. In the display area 115 and the display area 116 of the display unit 114, images captured by the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are displayed. As described above, the head module 47 is temporarily fixed to the carriage 41 in a substantially positioned state by a positioning screw or the like. Accordingly, the first imaging unit 81 images a part or all of the third reference nozzle 443 in the head module 47. In the display area 115, a part or all of the third reference nozzle 443 imaged by the first imaging unit 81 is displayed together with the first position information 117 already displayed in the reference determination step of the second step (FIG. 7 See top). The second imaging unit 82 images part or all of the fourth reference nozzle 444 in the head module 47. In the display area 116, a part or all of the fourth reference nozzle 444 imaged by the second imaging unit 82 is displayed together with the second position information 118 already displayed in the reference determination step of the second step (FIG. 7 See top). The upper part of FIG. 7 illustrates a state where all of the third reference nozzle 443 and the fourth reference nozzle 444 are displayed. In FIG. 7, “(441 ′)” written together with the code “443” and “(442 ′)” written together with the code “444” are codes for explanation to be described later, and this fourth step It is not the code | symbol relevant to description of.

  The operator confirms the first position information 117 displayed in the display area 115 and the second position information 118 displayed in the display area 116. The operator confirms the first position information 117 and makes the third reference nozzle 443 imaged by the first imaging unit 81 coincide with the first position information 117 (see the lower part of FIG. 7). At the same time, the operator confirms the second position information 118 so that the fourth reference nozzle 444 imaged by the second imaging unit 82 matches the second position information 118 (see the lower part of FIG. 7). At this time, the operator operates the adjustment mechanism provided for the head module 47 to be attached in order to obtain the above-described state. When the third reference nozzle 443 displayed in the display area 115 and the fourth reference nozzle 444 displayed in the display area 116 are both in the state shown in the lower part of FIG. The temporarily fixed head module 47 is attached to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state.

  When the head module 47 is attached to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state, the fourth process for the head module 47 ends. The positioning method returns to the third step again, and is repeatedly performed for the remaining head modules 48 and 49 in order. Third step in the case where the attachment of the head module 47 is completed and the target is transferred from the head module 47 to the head module 48, and the case where the attachment of the head module 48 is completed and the target is transferred from the head module 48 to the head module 49 In the third step, the carriage 41 is moved in the second direction by the dimension W from the second side to the first side as described above. This is because the distance between the third reference nozzles 443 (fourth reference nozzles 444) in the head modules 47, 48, and 49 is the dimension W as described above. The fourth step for the head module 49 is performed in the same manner as described above. When this is finished, the positioning method is finished. When the head modules 46, 47, 48, 49 are attached to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state, the recording head 42 is formed, and the recording head 42 is mounted on the carriage 41. In this state, an image can be recorded by the recording unit 40. The head modules 46, 47, 48, 49 being attached to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state means that the head modules 46, 47, 48, 49 are attached in a state that enables image recording.

<Effects of this embodiment>
According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) In the second step of the positioning method, for the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442, the adjustment mechanism provided for the head module 46 is operated, and the direction along the first direction and the second direction The head module 46 was attached to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state (first attachment step). In the second step, first position information 117 corresponding to the positioned first reference nozzle 441 is displayed in the display area 115, and second position information 118 corresponding to the second reference nozzle 442 is displayed in the display area 116. (Reference determination step, see the lower part of FIG. 6). Thereafter, the third step and the fourth step are repeated, and the third reference nozzle 443 in each of the head modules 47, 48, 49 is made to coincide with the first position information 117 displayed in the display area 115, and The fourth reference nozzle 444 in each of the head modules 47, 48, and 49 is made to coincide with the second position information 118 displayed in the display area 116 (see the upper and lower stages in FIG. 7).

  Therefore, the first reference nozzle 441 in the head module 46 and the third reference nozzle 443 in each of the head modules 47, 48, and 49 are arranged on the virtual straight line LA, and the second reference nozzle 442 in the head module 46 and the head The fourth reference nozzles 444 in each of the modules 47, 48, and 49 can be arranged on the virtual straight line LH. That is, when the line-type recording head 42 is formed by a plurality of head modules 46, 47, 48, 49, the plurality of nozzles 44 are respectively placed on virtual straight lines LA to LH as shown in FIG. It can be in an arrayed state. According to the recording unit 40 including the recording head 42 in which the nozzles 44 are preferably arranged, it is possible to record an image of suitable quality.

  By the way, when the recording head 42 is mounted on the carriage 41, the carriage 41 and / or the structure that supports the carriage 41 (for example, the slide mechanism 71 and / or the frame included in the inkjet recording apparatus 10) or the like is used. Depending on the weight, it may bend and deform. Further, depending on the temperature of the place where the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is installed, the intermediate plates 50, 55, 60, 65, the carriage 41 and / or the structure that supports the carriage 41 may thermally expand. Further, when the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is an apparatus that has already been operated, the head units 51, 52, 53, and 54, and the head units 56, 56, and 54 associated with the recording of the weight of the recording head 42 and / or the image recording described above. 57, 58, 59, the head portions 61, 62, 63, 64, and the temperature of the head portions 66, 67, 68, 69, etc., each part such as the carriage 41 and / or the structure that supports the carriage 41 is deformed over time. Sometimes it is.

  In such a case, for example, a positioning mechanism for positioning the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 is provided on the carriage 41, and the head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are attached to the carriage 41 only by this positioning mechanism. Since the positioning reference is shifted due to deformation, the nozzle 44 may not be arranged as described above. In this regard, according to the positioning method of the present embodiment, the third reference nozzle 443 and the first position information 117 based on the first reference nozzle 441 and the second position information 118 based on the second reference nozzle 442 are used as a reference. The head modules 47, 48, and 49 can be attached to the carriage 41 while positioning the fourth reference nozzle 444. Therefore, the recording head 42 can be suitably attached to the carriage 41 regardless of whether or not the above-described deformation has occurred. The relative positions of the head modules 47, 48, and 49 can be suitably arranged with respect to the head module 46.

  (2) In the observation unit 80, the second moving unit 87 is provided, and the base unit 83 provided with the support units 85 and 86 for supporting the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 is arranged in the direction along the first direction. I was able to move to. In addition, in the first step of the positioning method, the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are positioned based on one nozzle 44 (described above based on the first reference nozzle 441). . Therefore, the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 can be smoothly positioned in the direction along the first direction and in the second direction. By the positioned first imaging unit 81 and second imaging unit 82, the second to fourth steps can be suitably performed.

<Modification>
The present embodiment may be as follows. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  (1) In the above description, the relative movement in the third step of the positioning method is performed by driving the first moving unit 70 and moving the carriage 41 in the second direction from the second side to the first side. This relative movement may be performed as follows. That is, the observation unit 80 is provided with a mechanism unit that moves the base unit 83 in the second direction. In the third step, the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442, or the third reference nozzle 443 and the fourth reference nozzle 444, the first image pickup unit 81, and the second image pickup unit 82 are set to the dimension W as described above. In the case of relative movement only in the second direction, the newly provided mechanism part in the second direction is driven, and the base part 83 is moved by the dimension W from the first side to the second side. At this time, the first moving unit 70 is not driven, and the carriage 41 remains stopped.

  (2) In the above, the first-side nozzles 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA are used as the first reference nozzles 441, and the first-side nozzles in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LH. 44K was set as the second reference nozzle 442. In the head module 46, the first reference nozzle 441 and / or the second reference nozzle 442 may be other nozzles 44 included therein. For example, the first reference nozzle 441 may be the same nozzle 44Y as described above, and the second reference nozzle 442 may be the first-side nozzle 44C in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LF, for example. In addition, the first reference nozzle 441 may be the same nozzle 44Y as described above, and the second reference nozzle 442 may be the second side nozzle 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA, for example. In the case where the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442 are the nozzles 44 arranged on the same virtual straight line, in the first step of the positioning method, when the second imaging unit 82 is adjusted, the operator The one moving part 70 is driven, and the carriage 41 is operated so as to move the second direction from the second side to the first side. The amount of movement at this time is the interval between the reference nozzles 44 (see “dimension J” shown in FIG. 3). The first reference nozzle 441 may be a nozzle 44 other than the first-side nozzle 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA. For example, the second side nozzle 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA is used as the first reference nozzle 441, or any one of the nozzles 44 arranged on the other virtual straight lines LB to LH is the first nozzle 44Y. One reference nozzle 441 may be used. The two nozzles 44 having a wide interval in the direction along the first direction and / or in the second direction may be used as the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442. It becomes easy to improve positioning accuracy.

  In each of the head modules 47, 48, and 49, the third reference nozzle 443 and the fourth reference nozzle 444 are in positions corresponding to the positions of the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442 in the head module 46 as described above. Two nozzles 44 are provided. That is, also in this modification, the positional relationship between the third reference nozzle 443 and the fourth reference nozzle 444 in the first direction and the second direction is the same as the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442. And in common. In the observation unit 80, the positions on the base unit 83 where the support units 85 and 86 are respectively provided follow the relative positional relationship between the two reference nozzles set in the head modules 46, 47, 48 and 49, respectively. It is changed as appropriate so as to obtain a proper arrangement. The first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are supported by the support units 85 and 86, respectively, at appropriately changed positions.

(3) In the above, the positioning method implemented when head modules 46, 47, 48, and 49 are newly attached to the carriage 41 has been described. The positioning method as described above, any one of the head modules 46, 47, 48, 49 that are attach to the carriage 41, also be applied when replaced with another head module it can. Hereinafter, the positioning method implemented at the time of replacement | exchange is demonstrated. The positioning method performed at the time of replacement is performed in the same manner as the above-described positioning method described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, it demonstrates with reference to these each figure as needed. Hereinafter, a case where the head module 46 is replaced with a new head module (hereinafter referred to as “post-replacement head module 46 ′”) will be described as an example. Regarding the post-replacement head module 46 ′, the reference numerals used for the respective parts common to the head module 46 are the same as those used above. The nozzle 44 serving as a positioning reference is the same as described above. That is, the first-side nozzles 44Y in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LA are set as the first reference nozzles 441, and the first-side nozzles 44K in the second direction arranged on the virtual straight line LH are The second reference nozzle 442 will be described. However, the nozzle 44 used as a reference may be a nozzle 44 other than this, as described in “(2)” of “<Modification>”.

  In the positioning method performed at the time of replacement, the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 in a state where the direction along the first direction and the position in the second direction are positioned are used. In the case where the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are not positioned, the first step described above with reference to one nozzle 44 included in the head module to be replaced (head module before replacement) (see FIG. 5). The process corresponding to is performed in the same manner as described above. If the pre-replacement head module is the head module 46, for example, the first step (see FIG. 5) described above is performed in the same manner as described above for the first reference nozzle 441. A description of the positioning of the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 is omitted. When the first image pickup unit 81 and the second image pickup unit 82 are positioned, the above-described second-step reference determination step (see the lower part of FIG. 6) is performed. The head module 46 to be exchanged is already attached to the carriage 41. Therefore, in the positioning method performed at the time of replacement, the first attachment process of the second process is not performed. The reference determination step of the second step is performed for the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442 as described above, the first position information 117 is displayed at the position of the first reference nozzle 441, and the second position information 118 is displayed at the position of the second reference nozzle 442.

  Next, the head module 46 to be replaced is removed from the carriage 41. Thereafter, the post-replacement head module 46 ′ is attached to the position of the carriage 41 from which the head module 46 has been removed. At this time, the replaced head module 46 ′ is temporarily fixed to the carriage 41, for example. Temporary fixing is performed in the same manner as described above, for example. The first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 image a part of the range of the ejection surface 45 by the opposed replacement head module 46 ′ at each position where the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are arranged. In the display area 115 and the display area 116 of the display unit 114, images captured by the first imaging unit 81 and the second imaging unit 82 are displayed. The first imaging unit 81 images part or all of the first reference nozzle 441 ′ in the post-replacement head module 46 ′. In the display area 115, a part or all of the first reference nozzle 441 ′ imaged by the first imaging unit 81 is displayed together with the first position information 117 already displayed in the reference determination step in this positioning method ( (See the upper part of FIG. 7). The second imaging unit 82 images a part or all of the second reference nozzle 442 'in the head module 46' after replacement. In the display area 116, a part or all of the second reference nozzle 442 ′ imaged by the second imaging unit 82 is displayed together with the second position information 118 already displayed in the reference determination step in this positioning method ( (See the upper part of FIG. 7).

  The operator confirms the first position information 117 displayed in the display area 115 and the second position information 118 displayed in the display area 116. The operator confirms the first position information 117 and makes the first reference nozzle 441 ′ imaged by the first imaging unit 81 coincide with the first position information 117 (see the lower part of FIG. 7). At the same time, the operator confirms the second position information 118 so that the second position information 118 matches the second reference nozzle 442 ′ imaged by the second imaging unit 82 (see the lower part of FIG. 7). . At this time, the operator operates the adjustment mechanism provided for the post-replacement head module 46 ′ in order to obtain the above-described state. When both the first reference nozzle 441 ′ displayed in the display area 115 and the second reference nozzle 442 ′ displayed in the display area 116 are in the state shown in the lower part of FIG. The person attaches the temporarily replaced post-replacement head module 46 ′ to the carriage 41 in a permanently fixed state. As a result, the head module 46 'after replacement is attached to the carriage 41, and this positioning method ends.

  According to such a positioning method, the head module 46 attached to the carriage 41 can be preferably replaced with a new replaced head module 46 '. For example, as described above, there is a case where each part of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 is deformed. In such a case, for example, if the carriage 41 is provided with a positioning mechanism for positioning the head module, and the head module 46 to be replaced is replaced with the head module 46 ′ after replacement only by this positioning mechanism, before and after the replacement, The positions of the nozzles 44 included in these may not be the same position. In this regard, according to the positioning method described above, the positioning reference is the first reference nozzle 441 and the second reference nozzle 442 in the head module 46 to be replaced. After replacement, the head module 46 'can be replaced. Therefore, each position of the plurality of nozzles 44 ′ included in the head module 46 ′ after replacement can be set to the same position as the plurality of nozzles 44 included in the head module 46 before replacement. With the replacement, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the landing position of the ink ejected from the nozzle 44 ′ changes and the quality of the recorded image changes.

  (4) In the above description, the ink jet recording apparatus 10 including the line type recording head 42 has been described as an example. The positioning method of the present embodiment (including the method described in “(3)” of this modification) conveys the recording medium 12 in the first direction while moving the recording head in the second direction, and displays an image. The present invention can also be implemented for a recording type ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “serial type ink jet recording apparatus”). Similarly to the above, the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction in which the recording medium 12 is conveyed. Even in the case where a serial type ink jet recording apparatus is targeted, the positioning method of the present embodiment includes the same steps as described above and is performed in the same manner as described above.

An example of a positioning method that is performed when a plurality of head modules are newly attached to the carriage included in the serial type ink jet recording apparatus is as follows. That is, this positioning method includes a first attachment step, a reference position determination step, a movement step, and a second attachment step. The first mounting step includes a first head portion formed with a plurality of first nozzles that discharge the first type ink arranged in a direction along the first direction, and the first type ink. In a state in which a plurality of second nozzles to be discharged are arranged in a state along the first direction, the second head portions are arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction along the first direction. This is a step of attaching a first head module, which is a part of a recording head, formed fixed to one intermediate plate to a carriage. Reference determining step, among the plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles included in the first head module attached to the carriage, by imaging a first reference nozzle reference that Do in the first imaging unit Of the plurality of first nozzles and the plurality of second nozzles included in the first head module attached to the carriage, and the second imaging nozzle captures the reference second reference nozzle. In the state where the first reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, the first position information is displayed at the position of the first reference nozzle, and the second reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit. This is a step of displaying the second position information at the position of the two reference nozzles. In the moving process, when the first image pickup unit images the first reference nozzle and the second image pickup unit images the second reference nozzle, the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle, the first image pickup unit, and the second image pickup This is a step of relatively moving the portion by a predetermined reference amount in the second direction.

  The second attachment step includes a third head portion formed with a plurality of third nozzles that discharge the second type of ink arranged in a direction along the first direction, and the second type of ink. In a state in which a plurality of fourth nozzles to be ejected are arranged in a state along the first direction with the fourth head portions arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction along the first direction. In this step, a second head module, which is another part of the recording head, which is fixed to the second intermediate plate, is attached to the carriage. In the second mounting step, among the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles included in the second head module, the position in the second head module is the position of the first reference nozzle in the first head module. The third reference nozzle corresponding to the position is imaged by the first imaging unit relatively moved by the reference amount, and the third reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the first position information, Of the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles included in the second head module, the fourth reference in which the position in the second head module corresponds to the position of the second reference nozzle in the first head module The nozzle is imaged by the second imaging unit that is relatively moved by the reference amount together with the first imaging unit, and the fourth reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit is displayed in correspondence with the second position information. Be calledIn addition, although description was abbreviate | omitted, the 1st process for positioning a 1st imaging part and a 2nd imaging part is implemented similarly to the above.

  In the serial type ink jet recording apparatus, the first head module that is the attachment target in the first attachment process and the second head module that is the attachment object in the second attachment process may be configured as follows. Good. That is, the first head module includes a first head portion formed in a state in which a plurality of first nozzles that discharge the first type ink are arranged in a direction along the first direction, and a second type In a state where a plurality of second nozzles that discharge a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a direction along the first direction, the second head portions are arranged at predetermined intervals in the second direction. It may be fixed to the intermediate plate. The second head module includes a third head portion formed with a plurality of third nozzles that discharge the first type ink arranged in a direction along the first direction, and a second type ink. In a state where a plurality of fourth nozzles are arranged in a direction along the first direction, the fourth head portions are arranged at predetermined intervals in the second direction. It may be formed fixed to the plate. In the first head module and the second head module, the relative positions of the first head part and the second head part and the relative positions of the third head part and the fourth head part are the same. The first head portion to the fourth head portion are the same as described above.

In this case, the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are positioned in the same manner as described above in the direction along the first direction and the position in the second direction. However, the movement direction when positioning the second imaging unit is the second direction in which the first head unit and the second head unit are arranged. The first attachment step is performed in the same manner as described above, whereby the first head module is attached to the carriage. Reference determining step, among the plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles included in the first head module attached to the carriage, by imaging a first reference nozzle reference that Do in the first imaging unit Of the plurality of first nozzles and the plurality of second nozzles included in the first head module attached to the carriage, and the second imaging nozzle captures the reference second reference nozzle. In the state where the first reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, the first position information is displayed at the position of the first reference nozzle, and the second reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit. The second position information is displayed at the position of the two reference nozzles. In the moving process, when the first image pickup unit images the first reference nozzle and the second image pickup unit images the second reference nozzle, the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle, the first image pickup unit, and the second image pickup This is a step of relatively moving the part by a predetermined reference amount in the first direction. The reference amount is set in the same manner as described above. In the second attachment step, the second head module is attached to the carriage as follows. That is, among the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles included in the second head module, the position in the second head module corresponds to the position of the first reference nozzle in the first head module. The third reference nozzle is imaged by the first imaging unit that is relatively moved by the reference amount, and the third reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the first position information, and the second head module Among the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles included in the second head module, the fourth reference nozzle corresponding to the position of the second reference nozzle in the first head module, The fourth reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit that is relatively moved by the reference amount together with the one imaging unit and imaged by the second imaging unit is performed in a state of being displayed corresponding to the second position information.

An example of the positioning method performed when replacing any one of the head modules attached to the carriage included in the serial type ink jet recording apparatus is as follows. That is, this positioning method includes a reference determination step, a removal step, and an exchange step. When the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are not positioned, the process corresponding to the first process (see FIG. 5) described above is performed in the same manner as described above for one nozzle included in the pre-replacement head module. Is done. In the reference determination step , the fifth head portion formed in a state where the plurality of fifth nozzles that discharge the first type ink are arranged in the direction along the first direction, and the first type ink are discharged. A sixth head portion formed in a state where a plurality of sixth nozzles are arranged in a direction along the first direction is arranged at a predetermined interval in the direction along the first direction, and the middle before replacement it is formed by fixing the plate, and, attached to the carriage, among sixth nozzle part replacement before the number double the head Ru contained in the module of the fifth nozzles and the plurality is a recording head, the reference and a fifth reference nozzle displayed on the display unit captured by the first imaging unit Do that, among the plurality of fifth nozzles and a plurality of sixth nozzles included in the replaced head module, a primary sixth reference The nozzle is imaged by the second imaging unit and displayed on the display unit. With the quasi-nozzle displayed on the display section, the third position information is displayed at the position of the fifth reference nozzle, and with the sixth reference nozzle displayed on the display section, the fourth position information is displayed at the position of the sixth reference nozzle. Is a step of displaying. The removal step is a step of removing the pre-replacement head module from the carriage.

The replacement step includes a seventh head portion formed in a state where a plurality of seventh nozzles that discharge the first type ink are arranged in a direction along the first direction, and a plurality of nozzles that discharge the first type ink. The eighth plate is formed in a state where the eighth nozzles are arranged in a direction along the first direction, and the intermediate plate after replacement in a state where the eighth head portions are arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction along the first direction. The post-replacement head module, which is a part of the recording head formed fixed to the head, is attached to the carriage position where the pre-replacement head module was attached . In the replacement step, among the plurality of seventh nozzles and the plurality of eighth nozzles included in the head module after replacement, the position in the head module after replacement corresponds to the position of the fifth reference nozzle in the head module before replacement. The seventh reference nozzle is picked up by the first image pickup unit, the seventh reference nozzle picked up by the first image pickup unit is displayed corresponding to the third position information, and a plurality of seventh reference nozzles included in the head module after replacement are displayed. Of the nozzles and the plurality of eighth nozzles, the second imaging unit captures an eighth reference nozzle whose position in the post-replacement head module corresponds to the position of the sixth reference nozzle in the pre-replacement head module. The eighth reference nozzle imaged by the unit is performed in a state of being displayed corresponding to the fourth position information.

  In the serial type ink jet recording apparatus, the pre-replacement head module and the post-replacement head module may be configured as follows. That is, the pre-replacement head module includes a fifth head portion formed with a plurality of fifth nozzles that discharge the first type ink arranged in a direction along the first direction, and a second type. A sixth head portion formed with a plurality of sixth nozzles for ejecting ink arranged in a direction along the first direction is arranged in the second direction at a predetermined interval. It may be formed fixed to the plate. After the replacement, the head module includes a seventh head portion formed with a plurality of seventh nozzles that discharge the first type ink arranged in a direction along the first direction, and a second type ink. A plurality of eighth nozzles to be ejected are arranged in a direction along the first direction, and the eighth head portion is arranged in the second direction at a predetermined interval. It may be fixedly formed.

In this case, the reference determining step, among the multiple fifth nozzles and a plurality of sixth nozzles are Ru contained in the replaced head module, the fifth reference nozzle reference that Do and captured by the first imaging unit Displayed on the display unit, among the plurality of fifth nozzles and the plurality of sixth nozzles included in the pre-replacement head module, the sixth reference nozzle serving as a reference is imaged by the second imaging unit and displayed on the display unit. When the fifth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, the third position information is displayed at the position of the fifth reference nozzle, and the sixth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit. This is a step of displaying the four position information. The removal process is performed in the same manner as described above, whereby the pre-replacement head module is removed from the carriage. In the replacement process, the post-replacement head module is attached to the carriage as follows. That is, in the replacement process, among the plurality of seventh nozzles and the plurality of eighth nozzles included in the head module after replacement, the position in the head module after replacement corresponds to the position of the fifth reference nozzle in the head module before replacement. The seventh reference nozzle is imaged by the first imaging unit, and the seventh reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the third position information, and a plurality of the first reference nozzles included in the head module after replacement are displayed. Of the seven nozzles and the plurality of eighth nozzles, the second imaging unit images the eighth reference nozzle whose position in the head module after replacement corresponds to the position of the sixth reference nozzle in the head module before replacement, The eighth reference nozzle imaged by the two imaging units is performed in a state of being displayed corresponding to the fourth position information. In addition, although description was abbreviate | omitted, when the 1st imaging part and the 2nd imaging part are not positioned, the process corresponding to a 1st process is implemented similarly to the above. In the step corresponding to the first step, the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are positioned in the same manner as described above in the direction along the first direction and the position in the second direction. However, the movement direction when positioning the second imaging unit is the second direction in which the first head unit and the second head unit are arranged.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet recording device, 12 Recording medium 20 Conveyance part, 21 Conveyance surface, 40 Recording part, 41 Carriage 42 Recording head, 44, 44 ', 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K Nozzle 441, 441' First reference nozzle, 442 442 ′ second reference nozzle 443 third reference nozzle, 444 fourth reference nozzle, 45 discharge surface 46 head module, 46 ′ head module after replacement, 50 intermediate plate 51, 52, 53, 54 head portion 47 head module, 55 intermediate Plate 56, 57, 58, 59 Head part 48 Head module, 60 Intermediate plate 61, 62, 63, 64 Head part 49 Head module, 65 Intermediate plate 66, 67, 68, 69 Head part 70 First moving part, 71 Slide Mechanism, 72 ball screw, 73 nut Part 74 screw shaft, 75,76 linear guide, 77 drive part 80 observation part, 81 first imaging part, 82 second imaging part, 83 base part 85,86 support part, 87 second moving part, 88 slide mechanism 89 ball Screw, 90 screw shaft, 91, 92 linear guide, 93 drive unit 100 maintenance unit 110 control device, 111 control unit, 112 storage unit, 113 operation unit 114 display unit, 115, 116 display area 117 first position information, 118 first Two-position information LA, LB, LC, LD, LE, LF, LG, LH Virtual straight line

Claims (7)

In an inkjet recording apparatus comprising a recording head including a nozzle for discharging ink, a positioning method for positioning the nozzle,
In a state in which a first head part in which a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting ink is formed and a second head part in which a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting ink are formed are arranged at a predetermined interval. A first attachment step of attaching a first head module, which is a part of the recording head, formed fixed to a first intermediate plate to a carriage on which the recording head is mounted;
Among the plurality of first nozzles and said plurality of second nozzles included in the first head module attached to said carriage, a first reference nozzle reference that Do and captured by the first imaging unit Second imaging of a second reference nozzle serving as a reference among the plurality of first nozzles and the plurality of second nozzles displayed on the display unit and included in the first head module attached to the carriage. The first position information is displayed at the position of the first reference nozzle in a state where the first reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, and the second reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit. In the state displayed on the display unit, the second position information is displayed at the position of the second reference nozzle.
When imaging the first reference nozzle with the first imaging unit and imaging the second reference nozzle with the second imaging unit, the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle, the first imaging unit, A moving step of relatively moving the second imaging unit by a predetermined reference amount in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first head unit and the second head unit are arranged;
A third head part formed with a plurality of third nozzles for discharging ink and a fourth head part formed with a plurality of fourth nozzles for discharging ink are fixed to the second intermediate plate. The relative position of the third head part and the fourth head part formed and fixed to the second intermediate plate is relative to the first head part and the second head part in the first head module. A second attachment step of attaching a second head module, which is the other part of the recording head, which is the same position as the recording head, to the carriage,
The second mounting step includes
Of the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles included in the second head module, the position in the second head module is the position of the first reference nozzle in the first head module. The third reference nozzle corresponding to the position is imaged by the first imaging unit relatively moved by the reference amount, and the third reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit corresponds to the first position information. Displayed,
Of the plurality of third nozzles and the plurality of fourth nozzles included in the second head module, the position of the second head module is the position of the second reference nozzle in the first head module. The fourth reference nozzle corresponding to the position is imaged by the second imaging unit that is relatively moved by the reference amount together with the first imaging unit, and the fourth reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit is the first imaging unit. The positioning method performed in the state displayed according to two position information. The positioning method is a method for positioning the nozzle in an inkjet recording apparatus including the line-type recording head,
In the first attachment step, the plurality of first nozzles that discharge the first type of ink records an image with the ink jet recording apparatus in a direction in which the first head portion and the second head portion are arranged. The first head unit formed in a state of being arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction that coincides with the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, and the plurality of second types that discharge the second type of ink. The nozzle is fixed to the first intermediate plate in a state in which the nozzles are arranged at the predetermined interval in the direction along the first direction with the second head portion formed in the state arranged in the second direction. Attaching the first head module formed to the carriage,
In the moving step, when the first image pickup unit images the first reference nozzle and the second image pickup unit images the second reference nozzle, the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle, A step of relatively moving the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit by the reference amount in the second direction;
In the second mounting step, the third head portion formed in a state where the plurality of third nozzles that discharge the first type ink are arranged in the second direction, and the second type The fourth heads formed in a state where the plurality of fourth nozzles that eject ink are arranged in the second direction are arranged in the direction along the first direction at the predetermined interval. The positioning method according to claim 1, wherein the second head module is fixed to the second intermediate plate in a state and is attached to the carriage. The reference determining step includes
One of the plurality of first nozzles formed in the first head unit is used as the first reference nozzle, and the first imaging unit is used for imaging.
3. The positioning method according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of second nozzles formed on the second head portion is used as the second reference nozzle and an image is picked up by the second imaging portion. 4. . The reference determining step includes
One of the plurality of first nozzles formed in the first head unit is used as the first reference nozzle, and the first imaging unit is used for imaging.
The second nozzle formed on the same straight line as the first reference nozzle in one of the plurality of second nozzles formed on the second head portion and in a direction along the first direction. The positioning method according to claim 2, wherein an image of the second nozzle is used as an image of the second reference nozzle. The first imaging unit and the second imaging unit are arranged on the same straight line in the direction along the first direction, and the direction along the first direction of the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle And an adjustment step for supporting the base portion at intervals corresponding to the intervals in
The adjustment step includes
Imaging the first reference nozzle with the first imaging unit supported by the base unit and displaying it on the display unit;
Based on the position where the first reference nozzle is imaged by the first imaging unit, the base unit is moved in the direction from the second reference nozzle toward the first reference nozzle among the directions along the first direction. A step of moving the first reference nozzle and the second reference nozzle by a distance corresponding to an interval in the direction along the first direction;
After moving the base part, the first image picked up by the second image pickup part on the display part in a state corresponding to the first reference nozzle picked up by the first image pickup part and displayed on the display part. Including a step of supporting the second imaging unit on the base unit so that one reference nozzle is displayed,
The first attachment step includes the first reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit supported by the base unit in the adjustment step, and the second imaging unit supported by the base unit in the adjustment step. 5. The positioning method according to claim 4, wherein the positioning is performed in a state where the second reference nozzle imaged in step 1 is displayed on the display unit in the same state. In an inkjet recording apparatus comprising a recording head including a nozzle for discharging ink, a positioning method for positioning the nozzle,
A fifth head unit fifth nozzles multiple is formed, in a state of arranging a sixth head portion in which a plurality of the sixth nozzles are formed, at predetermined intervals, replacement fixed before the intermediate plate formed Te, and the attached to the carriage for mounting the recording head, said fifth before Symbol plurality that is part of the replacement before the head module which is part of the recording head nozzles and the plurality of sixth nozzle of the fifth reference nozzle reference that Do is displayed on the display unit captured by the first imaging unit, of the plurality of fifth nozzles and the plurality of sixth nozzles included in the exchange before head module Among them, the sixth reference nozzle as a reference is imaged by the second imaging unit and displayed on the display unit, and the third reference nozzle is displayed at the position of the fifth reference nozzle in a state where the fifth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit. Position information is displayed and the sixth reference nozzle is While viewing the serial display unit to display the fourth position information on the position of the sixth reference nozzles, and the reference decision step,
Removing the pre-replacement head module from the carriage; and
A seventh head portion seventh nozzles multiple is formed, and the eighth head portion in which a plurality of eighth nozzles are formed, is formed by fixing the after replacing the intermediate plate, and the exchange The recording in which the relative positions of the seventh head portion and the eighth head portion fixed to the rear intermediate plate are the same as the relative positions of the fifth head portion and the sixth head portion in the pre-replacement head module. A replacement step of attaching a post-replacement head module which is a part of the head to the position of the carriage where the pre-replacement head module was attached ,
The exchange process includes
Of the plurality of seventh nozzles and the plurality of eighth nozzles included in the post-replacement head module, the position in the post-replacement head module corresponds to the position of the fifth reference nozzle in the pre-replacement head module. The seventh reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit, the seventh reference nozzle imaged by the first imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the third position information,
Of the plurality of seventh nozzles and the plurality of eighth nozzles included in the post-replacement head module, the position in the post-replacement head module corresponds to the position of the sixth reference nozzle in the pre-replacement head module. Positioning is performed in such a manner that the eighth reference nozzle is imaged by the second imaging unit, and the eighth reference nozzle imaged by the second imaging unit is displayed corresponding to the fourth position information. Method. The positioning method is a method for positioning the nozzle in an inkjet recording apparatus including the line-type recording head,
In the reference determination step , the plurality of fifth nozzles that discharge the first kind of ink are arranged in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the inkjet recording apparatus is conveyed. The fifth head portion formed in a state where the sixth head portion is formed, and the sixth head portion formed in a state where the plurality of sixth nozzles for discharging the second type of ink are arranged in the second direction; in a state in which arranged at the predetermined intervals in a direction along the first direction, is formed by fixing the exchange before the intermediate plate, and, before that is part of the pre-exchange head module attached to said carriage serial plurality of fifth nozzles and the plurality of sixth nozzle, a pre Symbol fifth reference nozzle based and ing by imaging by the first imaging unit and displayed on the display unit, the replacement front head module The plurality of included in Fifth of nozzles and the plurality of sixth nozzle, the sixth reference nozzle as a reference and captured by the second imaging unit is displayed on the display unit, displaying the fifth reference nozzles on the display unit In the state where the third position information is displayed at the position of the fifth reference nozzle and the sixth reference nozzle is displayed on the display unit, the fourth position information is displayed at the position of the sixth reference nozzle. Display process,
The exchange step, prior Symbol said plurality of seventh nozzles ejecting first type ink, and the seventh head portion formed in a state of being arranged in the second direction, the second type of ink A plurality of the eighth nozzles that discharge the nozzles, and the eighth head portions formed in a state of being arranged in the second direction, arranged in the direction along the first direction at the predetermined interval The positioning method according to claim 6 , wherein the post-replacement head module formed by being fixed to the post-replacement intermediate plate is attached to the position of the carriage to which the pre-replacement head module was attached .

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