JP6291770B2 - Liquid ejection apparatus, pattern group recording method, misregistration detection method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid ejection apparatus, a pattern group recording method, a positional deviation detection method, and a program.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a line type image forming apparatus (liquid ejection apparatus) including a recording head in which ejection ports are formed over the entire width of a recording medium. In this image forming apparatus, the recording head is composed of a plurality of unit recording heads (head units) arranged in two staggered rows. By the way, in such an image forming apparatus, if the assembly position of each unit recording head is shifted, the recording position of an image recorded on the recording medium is shifted.

  Therefore, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a test pattern is recorded on a recording medium for each unit recording head. Then, by detecting the recording position of this test pattern with a sensor, a relative positional deviation with respect to a certain unit recording head is obtained for each unit recording head.

JP 2005-53167 A

  However, in the method of recording a test pattern on a recording medium for each unit recording head as in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to use a high-resolution sensor as a sensor for detecting the recording position of the test pattern. Therefore, there is a problem that the cost is increased, and there is a problem that adjustment in a place where such a high resolution sensor is not available, for example, a user cannot replace the unit recording head for adjustment.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus, a pattern group recording method, a positional deviation detection method, and a program that can easily detect a relative positional deviation between two head units. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, a liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention includes a transport unit for transporting a recording medium in a first direction and a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting a liquid that intersect with the first direction. A plurality of head units having discharge port arrays arranged in two directions are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the second direction, and for detecting the position of the head unit in the liquid discharge head A liquid ejection apparatus comprising the transport unit and a control unit for controlling the liquid ejection head so that a pattern group having a plurality of unit patterns is recorded on a recording medium, each of the plurality of unit patterns. Are the first area recorded on the recording medium by the liquid ejected from the ejection ports of both of the two head units adjacent in the second direction, and the adjacent 2 And a second area recorded on a recording medium by the liquid ejected from the ejection port of any one of the head units, and the first area is formed by the landing of the liquid Is an area that is recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement that has different optical characteristics in accordance with a dot interval in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction, and the second area is the landing of the liquid In the plurality of unit patterns in the pattern group, the first unit pattern is a region recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement that has different optical characteristics according to the dot interval in the first direction. The dot arrangement in the region is the same as each other, and the dot arrangement in the second region is different from each other.

  In the pattern group recording method of the present invention, a transport unit for transporting the recording medium in the first direction and a plurality of ejection ports for ejecting the liquid are arranged in the second direction intersecting the first direction. A position of the head unit in the liquid ejection head of a liquid ejection apparatus comprising: a liquid ejection head having a plurality of head units each having an ejection port array formed adjacent to the second direction. A pattern group recording method for recording a pattern group having a plurality of unit patterns on a recording medium, wherein the transport means, and the pattern unit having the plurality of unit patterns are recorded on a recording medium, and A process for controlling a liquid discharge head, wherein each of the plurality of unit patterns is respectively discharged from the discharge ports of both of the two head units adjacent in the second direction. Recording is performed on the recording medium by the liquid ejected from the ejection port of any one of the two adjacent head units, the first area recorded on the recording medium by the ejected liquid. A second region, and the first region has a dot arrangement in which optical characteristics differ according to a dot interval in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid. An area to be recorded on the recording medium, and the second area is recorded on the recording medium with a dot arrangement that has different optical characteristics depending on the dot interval in the first direction of the dots formed by the landing of the liquid. In the plurality of unit patterns in the pattern group, the dot arrangement of the first area is the same as each other, and the dot arrangement of the second area is mutually Characterized in that it comprises.

  The positional deviation detection method of the present invention is characterized in that the optical characteristics of the second region are the first characteristics among the plurality of unit patterns in the pattern group recorded on the recording medium by the pattern group recording method described above. A unit pattern having characteristics closest to the optical characteristics of one region is selected, and the positional deviation between the two adjacent head units is obtained based on the optical characteristics of the selected unit pattern.

  In the program of the present invention, a transport unit for transporting the recording medium in the first direction and a plurality of discharge ports for discharging the liquid are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. A program that is executed by a liquid discharge apparatus including a liquid discharge head that is arranged so that a plurality of head units having discharge port arrays are adjacent to each other in the second direction. A process for controlling the transport means and the liquid ejection head so that a pattern group having a plurality of unit patterns for detecting the position of the head unit in the head is recorded on a recording medium; The unit patterns are recorded on the recording medium by the liquid ejected from the ejection ports of both of the two head units adjacent in the second direction. 1 area and a 2nd area recorded on a recording medium with the liquid discharged from the discharge port of any one of the 2 adjacent head units, The 1st area Is an area recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement such that optical characteristics differ according to the dot interval in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction of the dots formed by the landing of the liquid, Two regions are regions that are recorded on a recording medium in a dot arrangement such that optical characteristics differ according to the dot interval in the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid, and the plurality of the patterns in the pattern group In the unit pattern, the dot arrangement in the first area is the same, and the dot arrangement in the second area is different from each other.

  According to the present invention, the first region of the unit pattern is a region having different optical characteristics according to the relative position in the third direction of two adjacent head units. For this reason, the optical characteristics of the first regions of the plurality of unit patterns recorded using a certain set of two adjacent head units are the same. On the other hand, the second region of each of the plurality of unit patterns is recorded with a dot arrangement having different optical characteristics according to the dot interval in the first direction of the dots formed by the landing of the liquid. Further, since the dot arrangement in the second region is different from each other, the optical characteristics of the second region are different from each other. As described above, by selecting a unit pattern whose optical characteristic of the second region is closest to the optical characteristic of the first region from among the plurality of unit patterns, it is adjacent to the optical characteristic of the selected second region. The distance between the two head units in the third direction can be obtained, and as a result, the relative positional deviation between the head units can be detected. In addition, since the relative positional deviation of the head unit can be detected by selecting the unit pattern whose optical characteristics of the second area are closest to the optical characteristics of the first area, it is as high as in the past. There is no need to use a resolution sensor, and as a result, costs can be reduced.

It is a schematic side view which shows the internal structure of the inkjet printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the structure of an inkjet head. It is a schematic plan view which shows the position adjustment mechanism of a head unit, (a) shows the state before adjustment, (b) shows the state after adjustment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a printer. It is a flowchart which shows the position adjustment method of a head unit. It is a flowchart which shows the discharge timing adjustment method. It is a figure which shows a pattern group. (A) is a figure explaining the dot arrangement | positioning of the 1st area | region of a unit pattern, (b), (c) is a figure explaining the dot arrangement | positioning of the 2nd area | region of a unit pattern. It is a figure explaining the 1st field of a unit pattern. It is a figure explaining the 2nd field of a unit pattern. It is a figure which shows the difference of the average value of the brightness | luminance of each 1st area | region of a several unit pattern, and the average value of the brightness | luminance of a 2nd area | region. It is a figure which shows the pattern group which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, an overall configuration of an inkjet printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped casing 1a. A paper discharge unit 11 is provided on the top of the casing 1a. In the internal space of the housing 1a, an inkjet head 3, a platen 4, a paper sensor 5, a paper feeding unit 6, a transport unit 7, a scanner 8 (see FIG. 4), a touch panel 40 (see FIG. 4), a controller 9 and the like are accommodated. Has been. In the internal space of the housing 1a, a conveyance path for conveying the paper P is formed from the paper supply unit 6 toward the paper discharge unit 11 along the thick arrow shown in FIG.

  The head 3 includes six head units 3x that are spaced apart from each other and arranged in a staggered manner in the main scanning direction (see FIG. 2). The arrangement direction (second direction D2) of the head units 3x is parallel to the facing surface 3x1 of the head unit 3x (see FIG. 1: the surface facing the paper P during recording) and between the head unit 3x and the paper P during recording. This is a direction that intersects the first direction D1 (sub-scanning direction) that is the relative movement direction. In the present embodiment, the second direction D2 is a main scanning direction (a direction parallel to the facing surface 3x1 and orthogonal to the first direction D1: a third direction D3). The printer 1 is of a line type that performs recording with the head unit 3x fixed. The six head units 3x have the same configuration, and each include a flow path member, an energy applying unit, and a driver IC 47 (see FIG. 4). In the flow path member, a flow path to each discharge port 30 (see FIG. 3) is formed. The energy applying unit applies energy for discharging from the discharge port 30 to the ink in the flow path. In the present embodiment, a piezo type (piezoelectric actuator) using a piezoelectric element is used as the energy applying unit. The piezoelectric actuator is connected to the controller 9 via a wiring member (for example, a flexible printed board: FPC) on which the driver IC 47 is mounted. The piezoelectric actuator is driven by applying a predetermined potential from the driver IC 47 under the control of the controller 9.

  The platen 4 is a flat member. The platen 4 faces the six head units 3x in the vertical direction (a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction). A predetermined gap suitable for recording (image formation) is formed between the upper surface of the platen 4 and the opposing surface 3x1 of each head unit 3x.

  The paper sensor 5 is disposed upstream of the head 3 in the transport direction of the paper P by the transport unit 7 (hereinafter simply referred to as “transport direction”). The paper sensor 5 detects the leading edge of the paper P and transmits a detection signal to the controller 9.

  The paper feed unit 6 includes a paper feed tray 6a and a paper feed roller 6b. The paper feed tray 6a is detachable from the housing 1a. The paper feed tray 6a is a box whose upper surface is open and can accommodate a plurality of papers P. In the present embodiment, the paper P is a white plain paper. Under the control of the controller 9, the paper feed roller 6b rotates by driving a paper feed motor 6M (see FIG. 4), and feeds the uppermost paper P in the paper feed tray 6a.

  The transport unit 7 includes roller pairs 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, and 12f and guides 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, and 13e. The roller pairs 12a to 12f are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction along the transport path. One roller of each of the roller pairs 12a to 12f is a drive roller that rotates by driving of the transport motor 7M (see FIG. 4) under the control of the controller 9. The other roller is a driven roller that rotates as the drive roller rotates. The guides 13a to 13e are alternately arranged with the roller pairs 12a to 12f in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction along the transport path. Each guide 13a-13e consists of a pair of board arrange | positioned facing each other.

  Under the control of the controller 9, the paper P delivered from the paper supply unit 6 is conveyed in the conveyance direction through the guides 13a to 13e while being sandwiched between the roller pairs 12a to 12f. When the sheet P passes underneath each head unit 3x while being supported on the upper surface of the platen 4, a plurality of ejection ports 30 (see FIG. 3) formed on the opposing surface 3x1 in each head unit 3x under the control of the controller 9. Each color ink is ejected toward the surface of the paper P from (see). The ink ejection operation from the ejection port 30 is performed based on the detection signal transmitted from the paper sensor 5. The paper P on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 11 through the opening 1a1 formed in the upper part of the housing 1a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 9 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 51, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 53, a bus 54, and the like. The ROM 51 stores programs executed by the CPU 50, various fixed data, and the like. The RAM 52 temporarily stores data (such as image data) necessary for program execution. The ASIC 53 includes a head control circuit 53a and a conveyance control circuit 53b. The ASIC 53 is connected to an external device 59 such as a PC (Personal Computer) via an input / output I / F (Interface) 58 so that data communication is possible. Further, the ASIC 53 is connected to various devices such as the scanner 8 and the touch panel 40 so that data communication is possible. The controller 9 cooperates with the CPU 50 and the ASIC 53 to perform an image recording operation for recording an image related to the recording data input from the external device 59 on the paper P, or a pattern group for recording a pattern group 15 described later on the paper P. A recording operation, a reading operation of reading an image recorded on the paper P by the scanner 8, and the like are performed. In the image recording operation and the pattern group recording operation, the head control circuit 53a controls the driver IC 47 so that ink is ejected from the ejection port 30 of the inkjet head 3, and the conveyance control circuit 53b is along the conveyance direction. The paper feed motor 6M and the carry motor 7M are controlled so that the paper P is carried.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, an arrangement mode of the ejection ports 30 in each head unit 3x and a position adjustment mechanism of the head unit 3x will be described. In the six head units 3x, the arrangement of the discharge ports 30 is the same, and the configuration of the position adjustment mechanism is also the same. Therefore, FIG. 3 shows only one head unit 3x and a position adjusting mechanism provided for the head unit 3x. Further, in FIG. 3, for convenience of explanation, the number of ejection ports 30 in each ejection port array 30x is illustrated differently from the actual one.

  The plurality of ejection ports 30 are arranged at a predetermined interval (in the present embodiment, an interval corresponding to a recording density of 300 dpi (about 84 μm)) in the fourth direction D4 on the facing surface 3 × 1, black (BK), yellow ( Four discharge port arrays 30x corresponding to the respective color inks of Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M) are configured. The four ejection port arrays 30x are arranged at predetermined intervals in a fifth direction D5 that is parallel to the facing surface 3x1 and orthogonal to the fourth direction D4.

  The position adjusting mechanism includes a first cam 31 and a second cam 32 having the same configuration and size. The cams 31 and 32 are disposed with the four ejection port arrays 30x interposed therebetween in the fifth direction D5. The cams 31 and 32 are respectively inserted into through-holes 3p1 and 3p2 formed in the head unit 3x, and rotate so that their peripheral surfaces are in contact with surfaces defining the through-holes 3p1 and 3p2 in the head unit 3x. It is configured. The cams 31 and 32 have rotation centers 31b and 32b that are eccentric from the centers 31a and 32a by a distance E, respectively. The axes constituting the rotation centers 31b and 32b each extend in a direction orthogonal to the facing surface 3x1, and are supported by the housing 1a. The through-hole 3p1 is a square composed of four sides having substantially the same length as the diameter of the first cam 31 when viewed from the vertical direction. The through hole 3p2 extends in the fifth direction D5 longer than the diameter of the second side and the two sides extending in the fourth direction D4 having substantially the same length as the diameter of the second cam 32 when viewed from the vertical direction. It is a rectangle composed of two existing sides. Therefore, the first cam 31 is restrained in both the fourth direction D4 and the fifth direction D5, while the second cam 32 is restrained in the fourth direction D4 but not in the fifth direction D5. , Free in the fifth direction D5. Each of the cams 31 and 32 is connected to a gear and an arm (both not shown), and is configured to rotate by a predetermined angle with one gear tooth. The gear also has a lock function, and the rotation of the cams 31 and 32 is prohibited by fixing the gear.

  The first position P1 and the second position P2 are arbitrary positions determined on the head unit 3x. Here, the center of the discharge port 30 that is closest to the cams 31 and 32 in the fourth direction D4 in the discharge port array 30x corresponding to black (BK) and magenta (M) respectively is defined as the first position P1 and the second position P1. The position is P2. It is assumed that the cams 31 and 32 are rotated clockwise by θ1 and −θ2 respectively from the state shown in FIG. 3A to the state shown in FIG. In this case, the amount of movement of the positions P1, P2 in the main scanning direction can be approximately expressed by the following equation (1).

The definition of each symbol in Formula (1) is as follows.
Δy1: Amount of movement of the first position P1 in the main scanning direction Δy2: Amount of movement of the second position P2 in the main scanning direction E: Eccentric distance R of the cams 31, 32 R: Radius L of the cams 31, 32 L: Rotational center distance B: Distance between positions P1, P2 and cams 31, 32 with respect to fourth direction D4 A1: Distance between first position P1 with respect to fifth direction D5 and center 31a A2: Second position with respect to fifth direction D5 P2 and center 31a interval Δsin θ1: change amount of sin θ1 due to change of θ1 Δsin θ2: change amount of sin θ2 due to change of θ2

  Thus, the cams 31 and 32 rotate around the rotation centers 31b and 32b, respectively, so that the positions P1 and P2 are rotationally moved. The first cam 31 rotates and moves the positions P1 and P2 around the rotation center 32b, and the second cam rotates and moves the positions P1 and P2 around the rotation center 31b. Thereby, the position adjustment of the head unit 3x is realized. That is, in the head unit 3x, the positions P1 and P2 are rotationally moved by the cams 31 and 32, so that the direction around the axis orthogonal to the facing surface 3x1 (hereinafter referred to as “rotation direction”) and the fourth direction D4. It is possible to adjust the position with respect to the movement including the components in both directions. Here, each of Δy1 and Δy2 is determined by both Δθ1 and Δθ2.

  The direction orthogonal to the straight line connecting the first position P1 and the second position P2 is the eighth direction D8, the amount of movement of the first position P1 in the eighth direction D8 by the first cam 31 is a, and the second amount by the first cam 31 is second. The amount of movement of the position P2 in the eighth direction D8 is b, the amount of movement of the first position P1 in the eighth direction D8 by the second cam 32 is c, and the amount of movement of the second position P2 in the eighth direction D8 by the second cam 32. When d is d, ad−bc ≠ 0 (that is, an inverse matrix of the matrix shown in the above equation (1) (the following equation (2) exists)). Here, each of Δθ1 and Δθ2 is determined by both Δy1 and Δy2.

  The sixth direction D6, which is the tangential direction of the rotational movement around the rotation center 32b at the first position P1, and the seventh direction D7, which is the tangential direction of the rotational movement around the rotation center 31b at the second position P2, It includes a component in the fourth direction D4. The eighth direction D8 is the same direction as the second direction D2 (main scanning direction) before the position adjustment.

  Here, it is preferable that the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 are both close to the fourth direction D4 (substantially the same direction). The sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 are preferably directions close to each other (substantially the same direction).

  The closer the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 are to each other, the better the approximation accuracy of the expression (1) (that is, the approximate expression assuming that the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 are the same direction). The difference between θ1 and θ2 determined on the basis of the rotation amount and the rotation amounts θ1 and θ2 determined on the basis of the exact formula is reduced, and the accuracy of the position adjustment is improved. Furthermore, the closer the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 are to each other, the greater the amount of movement of the head unit 3x per size of the cams 31, 32. Therefore, when the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 are close to each other, it is possible to realize downsizing of the printer 1 and highly accurate position adjustment.

  Of the first to eighth directions D1 to D8, the first direction D1 (sub-scanning direction), the second direction D2, and the third direction D3 (main scanning direction) are fixed with respect to the housing 1a. The direction does not change even if the head unit 3x rotates. On the other hand, the fourth direction D4 to the eighth direction D8 are directions defined for the individual head units 3x and fluctuate due to the rotational movement of the head units 3x. In the present embodiment, D2 = D4 = D8 = main scanning direction and D1 = D5 = sub-scanning direction before the position adjustment (see FIG. 3A).

  Next, a method for adjusting the position of the head unit 3x and a method for adjusting the ejection timing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The position adjustment is performed, for example, in the manufacturing process of the printer 1 after assembling each part of the printer 1 and before shipment from the factory. The discharge timing adjustment is performed after the position adjustment. The position adjustment is performed with respect to the rotation direction and the main scanning direction (third direction D3), and the ejection timing adjustment is performed with respect to the sub-scanning direction (first direction D1).

  In the position adjustment, as shown in FIG. 5, first, a pattern group recording operation for recording the pattern group 15 on the paper P is performed (S1). Then, the pattern group 15 recorded on the paper P is read by the scanner 8, and based on the read result, a misregistration detection operation for acquiring the relative positions of the two adjacent head units 3x is performed (S2). The pattern group recording operation and the positional deviation detection operation will be described in detail later. As for the position deviation detection operation, “the relative position of two adjacent head units 3x” may be detected, or “the amount of deviation from the position where the two adjacent head units 3x should originally be disposed (Δy described below). ) "May be detected.

  After S2, Δy (target movement amount in the main scanning direction of the head unit 3x) is determined (S3: second step). Specifically, Δy is determined for each of the six head units 3x based on the relative position detected in S2. Here, the “target movement amount” refers to the amount to be moved (that is, the movement amount from the current position to the position where it should be originally arranged).

  After S3, the rotation amounts Δθ1 and Δθ2 of the cams 31 and 32 are determined (S4: third step). Specifically, for each of the six head units 3x, Δsin θ1 and Δsin θ2 are obtained based on Δy determined in S3 and the above equation (2), and the rotation amounts Δθ1 and Δθ2 that give such a sine are obtained. To decide. Θ1 and θ2 are rotation amounts of the cams 31 and 32 with respect to the sub-scanning direction, and Δθ1 and Δθ2 are changes of θ1 and θ2 before and after the movement of the cams 31 and 32 in position adjustment. In the present embodiment, since θ1 = 0 and θ2 = 0 in the stage before the position adjustment, θ1 = Δθ1, θ2 = Δθ1.

  After S4, the cams 31 and 32 are rotated clockwise by Δθ1 and Δθ2, respectively (S5: fourth step). Specifically, in each of the six head units 3x, the arm is operated to rotate the gear by the number of teeth corresponding to Δθ1 and Δθ2. Thereby, the positions P1 and P2 of the six head units 3x are moved by Δy1 and Δy2 in the main scanning direction, respectively. At this time, the six head units 3x may be moved simultaneously or individually.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation amounts θ1 and θ2 of the cams 31 and 32 are angles with respect to the sub-scanning direction (see FIG. 3B). The ideal amount of rotation of the cams 31 and 32 relative to the head unit 3x is an angle with respect to the direction connecting the centers 31a and 32a (the direction indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3B), and θ1 of the present embodiment. , Θ2 is slightly different (that is, the rotation amount of the entire head unit 3x is subtracted from θ1, θ2 of the present embodiment). However, if the eccentric distance E is sufficiently smaller than the distance between the rotation centers 31b and 32b, the difference between Δθ1 and Δθ2 can be ignored in practice.

  Through the above steps, the position of each head unit 3x can be adjusted in the rotation direction and the main scanning direction.

  In the discharge timing adjustment, as shown in FIG. 6, first, test recording is performed (S21). Specifically, in each of the six head units 3 x, ink is ejected from the ejection ports 30 corresponding to black, recording is performed on the test paper P, and the recorded image is read by the scanner 8.

  After S21, Δx (target offset amount in the sub-scanning direction of the landing position) is determined (S22). Specifically, based on the result of S21, for each of the six head units 3x, the landing positions on the paper P of the ink droplets ejected from the ejection ports 30 of the head units 3x and the head unit 3x are sub-scanned. The distance in the sub-scanning direction from the landing position on the paper P of the ink droplets ejected from the ejection ports 30 of the head unit 3x adjacent in the direction, the paper droplets of the ink droplets ejected from the ejection ports 30 of the head unit 3x Δx is determined from the distance in the sub-scanning direction from the landing position to the edge of the paper P in FIG.

  After S22, the ejection timing of the ink from the ejection port 30 is determined (S23). Specifically, the ejection timing of ink from each ejection port 30 is determined based on Δx determined in S22 and the positional information of the ejection port 30 in the fifth direction D5.

  After S23, data relating to the ejection timing determined in S23 is stored in the ROM 51 using the controller of the manufacturing apparatus or the like (S24). The controller 9 controls the ejection timing of the ink from the ejection port 30 based on the data stored in the ROM 51 during recording.

  Next, the pattern group recording operation and the positional deviation detection operation will be described with reference to FIGS. A program for performing the pattern group recording operation and the positional deviation detection operation is stored in the ROM 51. The ROM 51 stores later-described dot arrangement data. In the following, focusing on the two head units 3x adjacent in the second direction D2, the detection operation of the relative positions of the two head units 3x in the third direction D3 (second direction D2) will be mainly described.

  By the way, as a method of detecting the relative position (position shift) in the third direction D3 of the two adjacent head units 3x, the landing position of the ink droplets ejected from the ejection port 30 of one head unit 3x on the paper P and There is a method of measuring the relative position by detecting a distance in the third direction D3 from the landing position of the ink droplet ejected from the ejection port 30 of the other head unit 3x on the paper P with a sensor. However, this method has a problem that the sensor to be detected needs to be a high-resolution sensor, so that the cost is increased, and there is a problem that adjustment cannot be performed in a place where there is no such high-resolution sensor.

  In the line type printer, since the recording is performed with the head unit 3x fixed, the deviation of the relative position of the head unit 3x appears as the deviation of the dot landing position in the third direction D3. For this reason, the pattern cannot be recorded on the paper P while intentionally shifting the ink droplet landing position in the third direction D3. On the other hand, even in a line-type printer, it is possible to record a pattern on the paper P while shifting the dot landing position in the first direction D1.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described below, first, the pattern group 15 having a plurality of unit patterns 20 is recorded on the paper P in the pattern group recording operation. In the misregistration detection operation, two adjacent two are recorded based on the optical density (corresponding to the optical characteristics of the present invention) of the first area 21 and the second area 22 (both will be described later) of each recorded unit pattern 20. The relative positions of the two head units 3x are detected. The optical density is an index indicating the overall brightness level of each area.

  First, the pattern group recording operation will be described in detail. In the pattern group recording operation, the controller 9 transports the paper P in the first direction D1 by the transport unit 7 and discharges 30 corresponding to black (BK) at each of the discharge ports 30 of the two adjacent head units 3x. As shown in FIG. 7, the pattern group 15 having a plurality of unit patterns 20 (in this embodiment, five unit patterns 20 a to 20 e) is recorded on the paper P.

  The plurality of unit patterns 20 are recorded on the paper P at predetermined intervals along the first direction D1. Each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 includes a first area 21 recorded on the paper P by ink droplets ejected from the ejection ports 30 of both of the two adjacent head units 3x, and two adjacent head units 3x. Among these, the second region 22 is recorded on the paper P by ink droplets ejected from the ejection port 30 of any one of the head units 3x. In the present embodiment, the unit pattern 20 has two second regions 22 corresponding to the respective head units 3x. The two second regions 22 are arranged so as to sandwich the first region 21 with respect to the third direction D3 (second direction D2), and are adjacent to the first region 21. The first area 21 and the second area 22 do not necessarily have to be separated in dot units. For example, in one dot, one half of the dot is the first area 21 and the remaining area is the remaining area. One half of the second region 22 may be provided.

  Each of the first area 21 and the second area 22 is an area where ink droplets can be landed when an image is recorded in each area, and not only an area where ink droplets have landed (hereinafter referred to as a landing area), An area where the paper P is exposed without ink droplets landing (hereinafter, white area) is also included. In the present embodiment, as described above, the color of the ink ejected from the ejection port 30 in the pattern group recording operation is black, and the paper P is a white plain paper. Therefore, the optical density of each of the first region 21 and the second region 22 decreases as the ratio of the white background region to the landing region increases.

The first area 21 and the second area 22 of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 are recorded based on the dot arrangement data stored in the ROM 51. The dot arrangement data is data indicating the dot arrangement of the first area 21 and the dot arrangement of the second area 22 for each of the plurality of unit patterns 20. “Dot arrangement” is information indicating which color ink is arranged in which dot size and in which position. For example, when a dot having an ink color i and a dot size j is represented as D _ij, it is represented by a two-dimensional array {D _ij } in which dots are arranged in two dimensions in the first direction D1 and the third direction D3. Information. In the present embodiment, the ink color of all the dots indicated by the dot arrangement is black (i is black). Accordingly, the first area 21 and the second area 22 of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 are expressed in monochrome.

  The dot arrangement in the first region 21 of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 is such that the optical density differs according to the dot interval in the third direction D3 of the dots formed on the paper P by the landing of the ink droplets. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8A, the dot arrangement is such that two graphic rows 25a each including a plurality of first graphics 25 arranged in the first direction D1 are arranged in the third direction D3. In the present embodiment, the first graphic 25 is a rhombus in which each side forms an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first direction D1. The direction of the diamond-shaped diagonal line of the first graphic 25 is the same direction as the first direction D1.

  Further, in the plurality of unit patterns 20, the dot arrangement in the first region 21 is the same. That is, in the pattern group recording operation, the same image is recorded in the first area 21 of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20. Thereby, the optical densities of the first regions 21 of the plurality of unit patterns 20 are the same.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, one of the two adjacent head units 3x is based on the information related to one graphic row 25a in the dot arrangement of the first region 21. By ejecting ink droplets from the ejection port 30 of the head unit 3x, the image 21a is recorded on the paper P, and ink is ejected from the ejection port 30 of the other head unit 3x based on the information relating to the other graphic row 25a in the dot arrangement. The image 21b is recorded on the paper P by ejecting the droplets. Each of the images 21a and 21b is an image in which graphics 21c corresponding to the first graphics 25 are arranged in the first direction D1.

  When the interval in the third direction D3 between the two adjacent head units 3x changes, the interval (dot interval) in the third direction D3 between the images 21a and 21b recorded on the paper P also changes. As a result, the ratio of the white background area to the landing area also changes, and the optical density of the first area 21 also changes. Therefore, for example, as the distance between the adjacent two head units 3x in the third direction D3 decreases, the ratio of the white area to the landing area in the first area 21 decreases, and as a result, the optical density of the first area 21 increases. Become. As an example, in FIGS. 9A and 9B, in FIG. 9B, the two adjacent head units 3x are arranged closer to each other in the third direction D3. The percentage of white area is small. For this reason, the optical density of the first region 21 is higher in FIG. 9B than in FIG. 9A. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, for convenience of explanation, a region where ink droplets land in the first region 21 is shown in black, and a region where ink droplets land in the second region 22 is hatched. It is shown in figure.

  In contrast, the dot arrangement in the second region 22 of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 is such that the optical density varies depending on the dot interval in the first direction D1 of the dots formed on the paper P due to the landing of the ink. Arrangement. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the dot arrangement is such that a plurality of graphic rows 26a each including a plurality of second graphics 26 arranged in the third direction D3 are arranged in the first direction D1. It is. In the present embodiment, the second graphic 26 is a rhombus whose sides form an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first direction D1, as with the first graphic 25 described above. The first graphic 25 and the second graphic 26 are 90-degree rotationally symmetric and translationally symmetric.

  In the plurality of unit patterns 20, the dot arrangement of the second region 22 is different from each other. Thereby, the optical densities of the second regions 22 of the plurality of unit patterns 20 are different from each other. Specifically, the dot arrangement in the second region 22 is such that the intervals (arrangement density) in the first direction D1 of the graphic row 26a are different from each other. For example, the interval in the first direction D1 of the graphic row 26a in the tod arrangement (see FIG. 8B) of the second area 22 of the unit pattern 20c is the tod arrangement of the second area 22 of the unit pattern 20e (FIG. 8C). ))) Is shorter than. In the dot arrangement of the second region 22, the second graphics 26 in the graphic row 26a adjacent in the first direction D1 may overlap each other. That is, the dot arrangement of the second region 22 may be such that the dots are arranged at the same position.

  Based on the dot arrangement of the second area 22, by ejecting ink from the ejection ports 30 of the head unit 3 x, the image 22 a related to each graphic row 26 a is displayed in the second area 22 as shown in FIG. 10. A plurality of arrays are recorded in the first direction D1. Each of the images 22a is an image in which graphics 22c corresponding to the second graphics 26 are arranged in the third direction D3. In FIG. 10, for convenience of explanation, a region where ink droplets land in the second region 22 is illustrated in black, and a region where ink droplets land in the first region 21 is illustrated in hatching. Further, in FIG. 10, the distance between the two head units 3x in the third direction D3 (the distance between the images 21a and 21b in the first region 21 in the third direction D3) is different from that in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the lengths of the plurality of unit patterns 20 in the first direction D1 are the same. Therefore, in the plurality of unit patterns 20, the dot arrangement in the second region 22 has a larger number of graphic rows 26a as the dot arrangement has a shorter interval in the first direction D1 of the graphic row 26a. For this reason, in the plurality of unit patterns 20, the ratio of the white area to the landing area becomes smaller in the second area 22 recorded with the dot arrangement having a short interval in the first direction D1 of the graphic row 26a. The optical density of the region 22 is increased. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the optical density of the second region 22 of the unit pattern 20c is higher than the optical density of the second region 22 of the unit pattern 20e.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the pattern group recording operation, in the dot arrangement of the first area 21, the first area 21 is set using only the information on the adjacent half of each of the two graphic rows 25 a. Record. Specifically, the graphic 21c of each of the images 21a and 21b in the first region 21 is a half graphic on one side obtained by halving the rhombus in the third direction D3 as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). In addition, the diagonal line along the first direction D1 of the rhombus is recorded so as to be in contact with the second region 22. Among the plurality of second graphics 26 in the dot arrangement of the second region 22, the information on the second graphic 26 related to the graphic 21 c adjacent to the first region 21 is half of the opposite side to the first region 21. The second area 22 is recorded with information of only a figure. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the graphic 22 c adjacent to the first region 21 in the image 22 a of the second region 22 is a one-sided half of the rhombus halved in the third direction D <b> 3, and It records so that the diagonal line along the 1st direction D1 of a rhombus may contact | connect the 1st area | region 21. FIG. Accordingly, when the two second regions 22 are arranged so as to sandwich the first region 21 in the third direction D3 and are recorded adjacent to the first region 21, the central region in the third direction D3 of the unit pattern 20 is recorded. When the optical density of the second region 22 is smaller than that of the first region 21, black streaks are formed along the first direction D <b> 1, and the second region 22 is compared with the first region 21. When the optical density is higher, the user can visually recognize that white stripes are formed along the first direction D1. As a result, the user can easily recognize the difference between the optical density of the first region 21 and the optical density of the second region 22 in each unit pattern 20. As a modification, the first area 21 may be recorded using all the information on the dot arrangement in the first area 21, and the second area 21 may be recorded using all the information on the dot arrangement in the second area 22. May be. In this case, the graphics 21c of the images 21a and 21b in the first area 21 and the graphics 22c of the images 22a in the second area 22 are all rhombuses.

  In addition, as described above, in the present embodiment, the first graphic 25 and the second graphic 26 are translationally symmetric. For this reason, since the pattern recorded in the first area 21 and the pattern recorded in the second area 22 are similar, the optical density of the first area 21 in each unit pattern 20 and the second area 22 The user can easily visually recognize the difference from the optical density.

  The first graphic 25 is a rhombus having sides that form 45 degrees with respect to the first direction D1. That is, the first graphic 25 has an outline that forms a predetermined angle other than zero degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the first direction D1 (third direction D3). For this reason, it is possible to increase the rate at which the optical density of the first region 21 changes with respect to the change in the interval in the third direction D3 of the images 21a and 21b of the first region 21. Similarly, the 2nd figure 26 is a rhombus which has a side which makes 45 degrees with respect to the 1st direction D1. For this reason, it is possible to increase the rate of change of the optical density of the second region 22 with respect to the change of the interval in the first direction D1 of the image 22a of the second region 22. As a result, the difference between the optical density of the first area 21 and the optical density of the second area 22 in each unit pattern 20 can be determined more accurately.

  As described above, by recording the plurality of unit patterns 20 on the paper P, the first area 21 is an area having different optical density according to the interval in the third direction D3 between the two adjacent head units 3x. . In addition, the optical densities of the first regions 21 of the plurality of unit patterns 20 are the same, while the optical densities of the second regions 22 are different from each other.

  Further, as described above, the first graphic 25 and the second graphic 26 are 90-degree rotationally symmetric. For this reason, the correspondence between the distance in the third direction D3 between the images 21a and 21b in the first region 21 and the optical density in the first region 21, and the first direction D1 of the image 22a related to the graphic row 26a in the second region 22. And the correspondence between the optical density of the second region 22 can be made the same. That is, in this embodiment, when the optical density of the first region 21 and the optical density of the second region 22 are the same, the distance in the third direction D3 of the images 21a and 21b of the first region 21 and the second region The interval between the 22 images 22a in the first direction D1 can be made the same.

  As described above, selecting the unit pattern 20 in which the optical density of the first area 21 and the optical density of the second area 22 are the same means that the interval in the first direction D1 of the image 22a of the second area 22 This is the same as selecting the unit pattern 20 having the same distance between the images 21a and 21b in the region 21 in the third direction D3.

  In addition, the interval in the first direction D1 of the image 22a in the second region 22 can be obtained from the interval in the first direction D1 of the graphic row 26a of the dot arrangement in the second region 22. For this reason, by selecting the unit pattern 20 having the optical density of the second region 22 that is closest to the optical density of the first region 21 from among the plurality of unit patterns 20, 2 adjacent to the selected unit pattern 20. It becomes possible to acquire the relative position of the three head units 3x in the third direction D3.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the pattern group 15 includes a reference unit pattern 20c and other unit patterns 20a, 20b, 20d, and 20e. The dot arrangement of the unit pattern 20c is such that the interval in the first direction D1 of the graphic row 26a is the interval in the third direction D3 of the images 21a and 21b when the adjacent two head units 3x are arranged at their original positions. Is set to the same. In other words, when the optical density of the first region 21 and the optical density of the second region 22 of the unit pattern 20c are the same, the distance between the two head units 3x in the third direction D3 causes a shift in the dot landing position. It means that the interval is such that an image can be recorded on the paper P without making it.

  On the other hand, in the dot arrangement of each of the unit patterns 20a, 20b, 20d, and 20e, the interval in the first direction D1 of the graphic array 26a is set to the interval in the first direction D1 of the graphic array 26a of the dot arrangement of the unit pattern 20c. On the other hand, they are set to be different from each other by a predetermined amount (hereinafter referred to as a deviation amount). Specifically, in this embodiment, the amount of deviation related to the unit pattern 20b is −20 μm, and the amount of deviation related to the unit pattern 20a is −40 μm. Further, the amount of deviation related to the unit pattern 20d is 20 μm, and the amount of deviation related to the unit pattern 20e is 40 μm.

  The amount of deviation of each of the unit patterns 20a, 20b, 20d, and 20e represents an error between the current interval between the two head units 3x and the interval that should originally be. For example, when the optical density of the first area 21 and the optical density of the second area 22 of the unit pattern 20b are the same, the current interval in the third direction D3 of the two head units 3x should be the first one that should be originally. It means that it is shorter by 20 μm than the interval in the three directions D3.

  Next, the displacement detection operation will be described in detail. In the misregistration detection operation, the controller 9 first acquires the average brightness value of the first region 21 and the average brightness value of the two second regions 22 for each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 by the scanner 8. Note that obtaining the average value of the luminance of the first region 21 and the average value of the luminance of the two second regions 22 of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 means that the optical density of the first region 21 and the two second regions are obtained. It is synonymous with acquiring the average value of 22 optical densities.

  The controller 9 calculates the absolute value of the difference between the average value of the luminance of the first region 21 and the average value of the luminance of the two second regions 22 (hereinafter referred to as the average luminance difference) for each of the plurality of unit patterns 20. FIG. 11A shows the calculation result of the absolute value of the average luminance difference of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 by the scanner 8. Each absolute value of the average luminance difference in FIG. 11A corresponds to the code of each unit pattern 20 shown in FIG.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 7, in the unit pattern 20d, the ratio of the white area to the landing area in the first area 21 and the ratio of the white area to the landing area in the second area 22 are substantially the same. For this reason, in the unit pattern 20d, the average value of the luminance of the first region 21 and the average value of the luminance of the two second regions 22 are substantially the same, and as shown in FIG. The absolute value of the luminance difference is substantially zero. On the other hand, in the unit patterns 20a, 20b, and 20c, the average value of the luminance of the first region 21 is smaller than the average value of the luminance of the two second regions 22, and in the unit pattern 20e, the average value of the first region 21 The average luminance value is larger than the average luminance value of the two second regions 22. For this reason, the absolute value of the average luminance difference of these unit patterns 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20e is larger than the absolute value of the average luminance difference of the unit pattern 20d.

  The controller 9 selects the unit pattern 20 having the smallest absolute value of the average luminance difference based on the calculation result of the absolute value of the average luminance difference. And the relative position of these two head units 3x is acquired by calculating | requiring the space | interval of the 3rd direction D3 of two adjacent head units 3x from the deviation | shift amount concerning this selected unit pattern 20. FIG.

  As a modification, the absolute value of the average luminance difference acquired from each unit pattern 20 may be curve-fitted, and the relative position of the two adjacent head units 3x may be obtained from the result. More specifically, by performing curve fitting on the absolute value of the average luminance difference acquired from each unit pattern 20 by, for example, the least square method using a Gaussian function, two parameters can be obtained from the parameters of the Gaussian function after fitting. An error between the current interval in the third direction D3 of the head unit 3x and the interval in the third direction D3 that should be originally is predicted and calculated. By performing curve fitting in this way, the error can be calculated with high resolution. In addition, for example, as shown in FIG. 11B, the absolute value of the average luminance difference calculated from each unit pattern 20 is used even when there is no unit pattern 20 in which the absolute value of the average luminance difference is substantially zero. Thus, the error can be predicted and calculated. As a result, the relative positions of the two head units 3x can be acquired with a high resolution.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, when the absolute value of the average luminance difference is calculated, the luminance of the two second regions 22 included in each unit pattern 20 is used as the average value of the luminance of the second region 22. The average value is used. As described above, by using the average value of the luminance values of the two second regions 22 corresponding to the head units 3x, the dot sizes and the like discharged from the discharge ports 30 of the head units 3x are different from each other due to manufacturing errors. Even in this case, the relative positions of the two adjacent head units 3x can be obtained with high accuracy.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the positions of the first position P1 and the second position are not adjusted by the cams 31 and 32, but the position adjustment is performed by performing the movement in the rotational direction and the movement in the parallel direction separately. The position of the head unit 3x is adjusted by rotating P2 around the rotation centers 31b and 32b. That is, the position adjustment of the head unit 3x is not regarded as the sum of the movement in the rotation direction and the movement in the parallel direction, but merely as the movement of the two predetermined positions P1 and P2 on the head unit 3x, and the rotation direction. And adjustment relating to movement including components in both directions in the parallel direction (in the present embodiment, the main scanning direction) are collectively performed. Thereby, a complicated process and a large-scale mechanism as in the former case are unnecessary, and accurate position adjustment can be realized by a simple process and configuration.

  Both the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 include components in the sub-scanning direction. In this case, position adjustment in the width direction of the paper P can be performed. In addition, in this case, the rotation amount (adjustment range) of the cams 31 and 32 per movement amount of the head unit 3x in the width direction of the paper P can be minimized. Therefore, the position adjustment of the head unit 3x in the width direction (third direction D3) of the paper P can be performed with high accuracy.

  In the printer 1, the direction perpendicular to the straight line connecting the first position P1 and the second position P2 is the eighth direction D8, the amount of movement of the first position P1 by the first cam 31 in the eighth direction D8 is a, and the first cam B represents the amount of movement of the second position P2 in the eighth direction D8 by 31; c represents the amount of movement of the first position P1 by the second cam 32 in the eighth direction D8; and 8th direction of the second position P2 by the second cam 32. When the moving amount of D8 is d, ad-bc ≠ 0. In this case, a set of Δθ1 and Δθ2 always exists, so that the position of the head unit 3x can be reliably adjusted by the cams 31 and 32.

  The adjustment unit for rotating the positions P1 and P2 of the head unit 3x includes cams 31 and 32 that rotate about an axis orthogonal to the facing surface 3x1. In this case, it is possible to realize an adjustment unit with small play and high accuracy with a simple configuration.

  In the present embodiment, the configurations and sizes of the cams 31 and 32 are the same. In this case, the rotation amount of the cams 31 and 32 can be determined using a simpler calculation formula. Moreover, since the same parts can be used as the cams 31 and 32, the printer 1 can be manufactured at low cost.

  In the present embodiment, the rotation center 31 b of the cam 31 corresponds to the axis of rotational movement by the cam 32, and the rotation center 32 b of the cam 32 corresponds to the axis of rotational movement by the cam 31. In this case, the rotation center of the cam of one adjustment unit also serves as the axis of rotational movement of the entire printer 1 by the other adjustment unit. Therefore, compared with the case where the rotation center of the cam and the axis of rotational movement by the adjustment unit are provided separately, each adjustment unit can be realized with a simple configuration.

  Each of the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 includes a component of the fourth direction (arrangement direction of the discharge ports 30) D4. In this case, it is suitable for an ink jet type liquid ejection apparatus as in this embodiment.

  The head unit 3x can be adjusted in position with respect to the rotation direction and the fourth direction D4 by rotating the positions P1 and P2 by the cams 31 and 32, and the controller 9 can adjust the position of the discharge port 30 with respect to the fifth direction D5. Based on the information, the ejection timing of the ink from the ejection port 30 is controlled. In this case, since the fifth direction D5 can be dealt with by controlling the discharge timing without using the cams 31 and 32, the process and configuration relating to position adjustment can be further simplified.

  The cams 31 and 32 are disposed with the four ejection port arrays 30x interposed therebetween in the fifth direction D5. As the distance between the cams 31 and 32 in the fifth direction D5 increases, the accuracy and efficiency of position adjustment in the fourth direction D4 (“efficiency” refers to the amount of movement of the head unit 3x per rotation amount of the cams 31 and 32). Say). In the above case, it is possible to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the position adjustment in the fourth direction D4 while suppressing an increase in size.

  Each of the sixth direction D6 and the seventh direction D7 includes a component in the second direction (array direction of the six head units 3x) D2. Cams 31 and 32 are provided for each of the six head units 3x. Then, for each of the six head units 3x, steps S1 to S5 related to position adjustment are performed. In this case, the head 3 that is long in the second direction D2 can be configured by using a plurality of short head units 3x in the second direction D2. In the case of this configuration, it becomes necessary to adjust the positional relationship between the head units 3x. However, by applying the position adjustment mechanism as in the present embodiment, accurate position adjustment can be realized by a simple process and configuration. it can.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the centers 31a and 32a and the rotation centers 31b and 32b of the cams 31 and 32 are aligned in the sub-scanning direction before the adjustment (see FIG. 3A). In this case, the amount of movement of the head unit 3x in the main scanning direction per rotation amount of the cams 31 and 32 can be maximized.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, in the plurality of unit patterns 20 recorded on the paper P by the pattern group recording operation, the first area 21 of the unit pattern 20 is in the third direction D3 of the two adjacent head units 3x. It becomes an area | region from which optical density differs according to an interval. For this reason, the optical densities of the first regions 21 of the plurality of unit patterns 20 recorded using a certain set of two adjacent head units 3x are the same. On the other hand, the second regions 22 of each of the plurality of unit patterns 20 are recorded with dot arrangements having different optical densities according to the dot intervals in the first direction D1 of the dots formed by the landing of the ink droplets. Further, since the dot arrangement of the second region 22 is different from each other, the optical density of the second region 22 is different from each other. As described above, by selecting the unit pattern 20 whose optical density of the second region 22 is closest to the optical density of the first region 21 from among the plurality of unit patterns 20, it is adjacent to the optical density of the second region 22. Thus, the relative positional deviation between the two head units 3x can be obtained. Further, by selecting the unit pattern 20 in which the optical density of the second region 22 is the closest to the optical density of the first region 21, it is possible to detect the relative positional deviation of the head unit 3x. It is not necessary to use a high-resolution sensor, and as a result, the cost can be reduced.

  The first graphic 25 and the second graphic 26 are 90-degree rotationally symmetric. For this reason, the correspondence between the distance in the third direction D3 between the images 21a and 21b in the first region 21 and the optical density in the first region 21, and the first direction D1 of the image 22a related to the graphic row 26a in the second region 22. And the correspondence between the optical density of the second region 22 can be made the same.

  Each of the first graphic 25 and the second graphic 26 has a contour that forms a predetermined angle other than zero degrees and 90 degrees with respect to the first direction D1. For this reason, it is possible to increase the rate at which the optical density of the first region 21 changes with respect to the change in the interval in the third direction D3 of the images 21a and 21b of the first region 21. Similarly, the rate of change of the optical density of the second region 22 with respect to the change of the interval in the first direction D1 of the image 22a of the second region 22 can be increased.

  Further, the first graphic 25 and the second graphic 26 are in translational symmetry. In this case, since the pattern recorded in the first area 21 and the pattern recorded in the second area 22 are similar, the optical density of the first area 21 in each unit pattern 20 and the second area 22 It becomes easier for the user to visually recognize the difference from the optical density.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes can be made as long as they are described in the claims.

The position adjustment of the head unit is not only the positional relationship with other head units when there are a plurality of head units, but also a member other than the head unit included in the liquid ejection device (for example, a cap for covering the facing surface) May be performed for the purpose of adjusting the positional relationship between
The position adjustment of the head unit is not limited to being performed in the manufacturing process of the liquid ejection device, and may be performed by the user of the liquid ejection device. For example, when the user himself / herself replaces the failed head unit, the position may be adjusted.
In the discharge timing adjustment, Δx may be determined based on the unit pattern recorded by the pattern group recording operation performed by the position adjustment without performing the test recording.
The selection of the unit pattern in which the optical density of the second area is most different from the optical density of the first area from among the plurality of unit patterns is not limited to reading by a reading device such as a scanner. May be performed visually. In this case, the unit pattern selected by the user via the touch panel may be input to the controller, and the controller may automatically adjust the position of the head unit based on the input result.
-In above-mentioned embodiment, although the operation amount of the adjustment part (the 1st cam 31 and the 2nd cam 32) is determined using the approximate expression, it is not limited to this. For example, the operation amount of the adjustment unit may be determined using a strict expression, or the operation amount of the adjustment unit may be determined using a table showing a correspondence relationship between the operation amount of the adjustment unit and the movement amount of the head unit. May be determined.
-Although the 1st position and the 2nd position are made into the center of a discharge outlet in the embodiment mentioned above, it can set arbitrarily and may be positions other than the center of a discharge outlet. In this case, a positioning mark or the like may be attached to the position.
-A 1st adjustment part (1st cam 31) and a 2nd adjustment part (2nd cam 32) may be comprised from arbitrary members (for example, screw) other than a cam.
The plurality of head units is not limited to being arranged in a staggered manner, and may be arranged in a single row or a plurality of rows that are not staggered. Further, the arrangement direction of the plurality of head units is not limited to the main scanning direction. Further, the arrangement direction (second direction) of the ejection port arrays is not limited to the main scanning direction (third direction).
-Arrangement | positioning aspect of the discharge outlet in an opposing surface can be changed arbitrarily. For example, the number of ejection port arrays may be only one.
The liquid ejected from the plurality of ejection ports formed on the opposing surface is of a plurality of types (each color ink such as black and yellow) in the above-described embodiment, but one type (for example, only black ink, only yellow ink) Etc.). The liquid is not limited to ink, and may be any liquid (for example, pretreatment liquid).
The energy applying unit is not limited to a piezo type using a piezoelectric element, but may be any other type (thermal type using a heating element, electrostatic type using an electrostatic force, etc.).
The liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the ink jet system, and may be a laser system, a thermal transfer system, or the like.
-The recording medium is not limited to paper. For example, in the case of the intermediate transfer method, an intermediate transfer member (roller, belt, etc.) corresponds to the recording medium.
The liquid ejection apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a printer, and may be a facsimile, a copier, or the like.
The number of unit patterns in the pattern group is arbitrary as long as it is plural.
The dot arrangement in the first region of the unit pattern may be a dot arrangement having an optical density that varies depending on the dot interval in the third direction of dots formed on the paper by the landing of the ink droplets. The dot arrangement of the region is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the optical density varies depending on the dot interval in the first direction of the dots formed on the paper P by the landing of the ink droplets. Absent. For example, the dot arrangement in the first area 210 is a dot arrangement in which two rows of rectangular first figures that are long in the first direction D1 are arranged in the third direction D3. Further, the dot arrangement of the second region 220 is a dot arrangement in which a plurality of second graphics in which the first graphic is 90-degree rotationally symmetric are arranged in the third direction D3. Then, the dot arrangements of the second regions 220 of the plurality of unit patterns 200 are set to have different intervals in the third direction D3 of the second graphic. If each of the first area 210 and the second area 220 of the plurality of unit patterns 200 is recorded with such a dot arrangement as shown in FIG. 12, the third direction of the first area 210 is the same as in the above-described embodiment. The correspondence between the dot interval of D3 and the optical density of the first region 21 and the correspondence between the dot interval of the second region 220 in the first direction D1 and the optical density of the second region 22 can be made the same. . At this time, the length of the first figure 25 in the first direction D1 and the length of the second figure 26 in the third direction D3 do not necessarily have to coincide with each other.
In the unit pattern, in the above-described embodiment, the second region is adjacent to the first region in the third direction, but may be separated without being adjacent. In the above-described embodiment, the unit pattern has two second regions, but it may be only one.
The dot arrangement in the first area is a dot arrangement in which the first graphic is arranged in two rows in the third direction, but may be a dot arrangement in which the first graphic is arranged in three or more rows in the third direction.

1 Inkjet printer (liquid ejection device)
3 Inkjet head (liquid ejection head)
3x Head unit 7 Transport unit (transport means)
9 Controller (control means)
15 pattern group 20 unit pattern 21 first region 22 second region 30 discharge port 30x discharge port array D1 first direction D2 second direction D3 third direction

Claims (11)

Conveying means for conveying the recording medium in the first direction;
A plurality of head units each having a discharge port array in which a plurality of discharge ports for discharging a liquid are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the second direction. A liquid discharge head;
A transport unit and a control unit for controlling the liquid ejection head so that a pattern group having a plurality of unit patterns for detecting the position of the head unit in the liquid ejection head is recorded on a recording medium. A liquid ejection device comprising:
Each of the plurality of unit patterns is
A first region recorded on a recording medium by liquid ejected from the ejection ports of both of the two head units adjacent in the second direction;
A second region that is recorded on a recording medium by the liquid ejected from the ejection port of any one of the two head units adjacent to each other;
The first area is an area recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement having different optical characteristics according to a dot interval in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid. Yes,
The second region is a region recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement such that optical characteristics differ according to the dot interval in the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid,
In the plurality of unit patterns in the pattern group,
The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dot arrangement in the first area is the same, and the dot arrangement in the second area is different from each other.   The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second region in the unit pattern is adjacent to the first region in the third direction. The dot arrangement of the first region is such that a plurality of first figures are arranged in the third direction,
3. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dot arrangement in the second region is such that a plurality of second graphics are arranged in the first direction. 4.   The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first graphic and the second graphic are 90-degree rotationally symmetric.   The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first graphic and the second graphic are translationally symmetric.   The said 1st figure and the said 2nd figure have the outline which makes | forms the predetermined angle other than zero degree and 90 degree | times with respect to the said 1st direction, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. The liquid discharge apparatus as described.   In each of the second regions of the plurality of unit patterns, an image in which the interval in the first direction of the second graphic is different for each unit pattern is recorded, whereby the second regions of the plurality of unit patterns are recorded. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein respective optical characteristics are different from each other. The dot arrangement of the first region is such that a plurality of the first figures are arranged in each of the first direction and the third direction,
The dot arrangement of the second region is such that a plurality of the second figures are arranged in each of the first direction and the third direction,
The liquid according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the first graphic and the second graphic are rhombic figures having sides forming an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first direction. Discharge device. A plurality of heads having a discharge port array in which a transport unit for transporting a recording medium in a first direction and a plurality of discharge ports for discharging a liquid are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. A pattern group having a plurality of unit patterns for detecting the position of the head unit in the liquid ejection head of a liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head arranged so that the unit is adjacent to the second direction Is a pattern group recording method for recording on a recording medium,
A process of controlling the transport unit and the liquid ejection head so that a pattern group having the plurality of unit patterns is recorded on a recording medium;
Each of the plurality of unit patterns is
A first region recorded on a recording medium by liquid ejected from the ejection ports of both of the two head units adjacent in the second direction;
A second region that is recorded on a recording medium by the liquid ejected from the ejection port of any one of the two head units adjacent to each other;
The first area is an area recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement having different optical characteristics according to a dot interval in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid. Yes,
The second region is a region recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement such that optical characteristics differ according to the dot interval in the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid,
In the plurality of unit patterns in the pattern group,
The pattern group recording method according to claim 1, wherein the dot arrangement in the first area is the same, and the dot arrangement in the second area is different.   An optical characteristic of the second area is closest to an optical characteristic of the first area among the plurality of unit patterns in the pattern group recorded on the recording medium by the pattern group recording method according to claim 9. A misregistration detection method comprising: selecting a unit pattern having characteristics, and obtaining a misregistration between the two adjacent head units based on optical characteristics of the selected unit pattern. A plurality of heads having a discharge port array in which a transport unit for transporting a recording medium in a first direction and a plurality of discharge ports for discharging a liquid are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. A program that is executed by a liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head that is disposed so that the unit is adjacent to the second direction,
In the liquid ejection device,
A process of controlling the transport unit and the liquid discharge head is executed so that a pattern group having a plurality of unit patterns for detecting the position of the head unit in the liquid discharge head is recorded on a recording medium. ,
Each of the plurality of unit patterns is
A first region recorded on a recording medium by liquid ejected from the ejection ports of both of the two head units adjacent in the second direction;
A second region that is recorded on a recording medium by the liquid ejected from the ejection port of any one of the two head units adjacent to each other;
The first area is an area recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement having different optical characteristics according to a dot interval in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid. Yes,
The second region is a region recorded on a recording medium with a dot arrangement such that optical characteristics differ according to the dot interval in the first direction of dots formed by the landing of the liquid,
In the plurality of unit patterns in the pattern group,
The program in which the dot arrangement in the first area is the same, and the dot arrangement in the second area is different from each other.

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