JP6974816B1 - Recording device and recorded data processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device capable of reliably correcting a machine accuracy error without using an advanced component or the like and realizing a high degree of image recording accuracy. A recording head that discharges a recording agent to the recording medium, a moving means that relatively moves the table and the recording head to record the image data on the recording medium, and movement by the moving means. In, the acquisition means for acquiring information related to the relative deviation of a plurality of positions of the recording head corresponding to the plurality of positions in the table, and the image data for correcting the image data according to the information related to the deviation acquired by the acquisition means. The first correction means has one correction means, and the first correction means divides the image data into a plurality of blocks, each of which corresponds to each of a plurality of positions in the table, and each of the plurality of blocks has a corresponding recording head. The image data is corrected by moving the relative positions of the above in the direction opposite to the direction of the deviation of each position. [Selection diagram] FIG. 15

Description

The present invention relates to a recording device for recording an image on a recording medium and a recording data processing method.

Conventionally, as an image recording device that directly records an image on a recording medium, ink is applied to the recording medium while scanning an inkjet head having a plurality of nozzle rows in which nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged in a predetermined direction. An inkjet recording device that ejects and records an image is known.

Inkjet recording devices are not only used for image recording of printed matter for visually viewed purposes such as photographic images, but may also be used for applying special inks such as functional materials, especially in such cases. May require higher image recording accuracy than before, such as ensuring that ink droplets land at an intended position on the surface of the recording medium. In recent years, various techniques for improving the recording accuracy of image recording of an inkjet recording apparatus have been proposed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-204421 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2021-21782

For example, in Patent Document 1, in a drawing device for a substrate, drawing data for drawing a circuit pattern converted from vector data to raster data is divided into a plurality of mesh regions, and the drawing data is located at the position of an alignment mark provided on the substrate. By rearranging the mesh area according to the shape of the substrate based on this, a drawing device that can easily generate drawing data according to deformation such as warpage, distortion, and distortion due to processing in the previous process. Has been proposed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in a drawing device for a substrate, run length data of an image corresponding to a plurality of division tilt angles, which is a deviation in the circumferential direction of the substrate from a reference position on the stage, is used as a plurality of initial drawing data. Store in advance, select one of the initial drawing data according to the actual tilt angle on the stage of the board, set multiple drawing blocks arranged in a matrix for the selected initial drawing data, and actually By moving the drawing block according to the difference between the tilt angle and the division tilt angle, drawing data is quickly generated, and drawing is performed quickly and accurately on the substrate tilted on the stage. A drawing device has been proposed.

By the way, the inkjet recording device is composed of various members such as an inkjet head, a table on which a recording medium is placed, a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted, a carriage and various drive units for driving the table, and the like. Therefore, the ink ejected from the inkjet head is caused by a defect in the manufacturing accuracy of the member itself constituting the inkjet recording device, a defect in the assembly accuracy of each member, and a mechanical accuracy error due to a combination of factors not limited to these. Degradation of recording quality may occur due to a defect in landing accuracy in which the droplets do not land at the intended position of the image data on the surface of the recording medium.

Solving such mechanical accuracy error by selecting high-precision members and improving assembly accuracy will lead to an increase in parts prices and assembly work man-hours, resulting in an increase in manufacturing costs for inkjet recording equipment. Connect. Further, as described above, in the inkjet recording apparatus, higher image recording accuracy than before is required depending on the application, and therefore, the required image recording accuracy may not be satisfied by these methods.

Further, the above mechanical accuracy error is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 because it occurs as a defect in the image recording accuracy of the inkjet recording device itself regardless of the distortion or the mounting state of the recording medium. In some cases, it may not be possible to solve the problem by correcting the shape error such as warpage distortion of the recording medium itself or the drawing data according to the tilt of the placement on the stage, and the machine accuracy error is disclosed in these documents. It can also cause a decrease in the accuracy of recording using the drawing data generated by the method.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to solve the above problems, reliably correct mechanical accuracy errors without using advanced parts, and realize high image recording accuracy. Provides a recording device.

In order to achieve the above object, the inventor of the present invention has found the following configuration as a result of diligent efforts.

That is, in the present invention
The table on which the recording medium is placed and
A recording head that discharges a recording agent to a recording medium placed on the table, and a recording head.
A moving means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in order to record the image data on the recording medium.
An acquisition means for acquiring information relating to a relative deviation of a plurality of positions of the recording head corresponding to a plurality of positions of the table in the movement by the moving means.
A first correction means for correcting the image data according to the information acquired by the acquisition means, and a first correction means.
Have,
The first correction means divides the image data into a plurality of blocks, each corresponding to each of the plurality of positions in the table, and each of the plurality of blocks is relative to the corresponding recording head. The recording device is characterized in that the image data is corrected by moving the plurality of positions in a direction opposite to the direction of deviation of each of the plurality of positions.

Further, the moving means includes a means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in the first direction, and a second means in which the table and the recording head are substantially orthogonal to the first direction. It includes means for relatively moving in a direction, and the information relating to the deviation includes information relating to the deviation in the first direction and the second direction.

Further, the first correction means is characterized by including a storage means for storing information related to the deviation.

Further, the storage means stores a plurality of information related to the deviation according to the temperature of the recording device, and the first correction means is the recording device based on the information related to the plurality of deviations stored in the storage means. It is characterized in that the information relating to the deviation according to the temperature of the above is selected, and the block is moved according to the selected information relating to the deviation.

Further, it is characterized in that two or more pieces of information related to the deviation according to the temperature stored in the storage means are used to further calculate the information related to the deviation according to the temperature not stored in the storage means. do.

Further, in the first correction means, when a region where pixels overlap with the adjacent block is generated when the block is moved, the image data in the overlapping region is ORed. And.

Further, in the first correction means, when the movement amount of the block exceeds the predetermined first predetermined amount, the block is further divided.

Further, the first specified amount is one pixel.

Further, it is further provided with a shape information acquisition means for acquiring shape information related to the shape of the recorded medium and a second correction means for correcting the image data according to the shape information.

Further, the recorded medium has a recorded area in which the image data is recorded and a plurality of alignment marks arranged in the outer peripheral area of the recorded area in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the recorded area.
The shape information acquisition means is characterized in that the shape information is acquired based on the position information of the plurality of alignment marks on the recording medium placed on the table.

Further, the second correction means is characterized in that the image data is corrected by dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks and moving the plurality of blocks according to the shape information.

Further, the size of the block divided by the first correction means is equal to the size of the block divided by the second correction means, and the first correction means and the second correction means have the same size. It is characterized in that the boundaries of the blocks to be divided are different from each other.

Further, in the first correction means or the second correction means, when the block is moved and a region where pixels overlap with the adjacent block is generated, the image data of the overlapping region is used. It is characterized by logical sum processing.

Further, in the second correction means, when the movement amount of the block exceeds the predetermined second specified amount, the block is further divided.

The recording device according to claim 14, wherein the specified amount is one pixel.

In addition, a table on which the recording medium is placed and
A recording head that discharges a recording agent to a recording medium placed on the table, and a recording head.
A moving means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in order to record the image data on the recording medium.
A storage means for storing information relating to a relative deviation of a plurality of positions of the recording head corresponding to a plurality of positions of the table in the movement by the moving means.
A shape information acquisition means for acquiring shape information related to the shape of the recording medium, and
A correction means for correcting the image data by dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks each corresponding to each of the plurality of positions in the table and moving each of the plurality of blocks.
Have,
The correction means causes each of the plurality of blocks to move a movement amount according to the information related to the deviation stored in the storage means and the shape information acquired by the shape acquisition means. It can also be configured as a recording device characterized by this.

Further, the moving means includes a means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in the first direction, and a second means in which the table and the recording head are substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The information includes means for relatively moving in a direction, and the information includes information relating to a deviation between the first direction and the second direction.

Further, the storage means stores a plurality of information related to the deviation according to the temperature of the recording device, and the correction means obtains the temperature of the recording device from the information related to the plurality of deviations stored in the storage means. It is characterized in that the information relating to the deviation corresponding to the deviation is selected, and the block is moved according to the selected information relating to the deviation.

Further, it is characterized in that two or more pieces of information related to the deviation according to the temperature stored in the storage means are used to further calculate the information related to the deviation according to the temperature not stored in the storage means. do.

Further, the recorded medium has a plurality of alignment marks arranged in the outer peripheral region of the recorded region in a predetermined positional relationship with the recorded region in which the image data is recorded. ,
The shape information acquisition means is characterized in that the shape information is acquired based on the position information of the plurality of alignment marks on the recording medium placed on the table.

Further, in the correction means, when a region where pixels overlap with the adjacent block is generated when the block is moved, the image data in the overlapping region is ORed.

Further, in the correction means, when the movement amount of the block exceeds a predetermined amount specified in advance, the block is further divided.

Further, the specified amount is one pixel.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a recording device that solves the above-mentioned problems and realizes an inexpensive and high image recording accuracy by adopting the above configuration.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structural example of the inkjet recording apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the ideal movement trajectory in the Y direction of a table, and an example of an actual movement trajectory. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the phenomenon which occurs when the enlargement / reduction is performed. It is a schematic diagram explaining an example of a block correction process. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which moved one pixel from the upstream to the downstream in the X direction in order to enlarge the image data of a checkered pattern. It is a schematic diagram which shows the formation state of the ink dot before and after enlargement in the enlarged part at the time of printing the image of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which moved one pixel from the downstream to the upstream in the X direction in order to reduce the image data of a checkered pattern. It is a schematic diagram which shows the formation state of the ink dot before and after enlargement in the enlarged part at the time of printing the image of FIG. 7. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a glass scale. It is a schematic diagram which showed the reading situation of the glass scale using a camera. It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole image of the occurrence state of the deviation between a linear encoder coordinate and a reference mark in a table plane. It is a list which describes a part of the linear encoder coordinates in the reference position coordinates in the predetermined column in the X direction, and the calculated correction value, which was acquired by measuring the glass scale with a camera. It is a schematic diagram which shows the transformation example of the image data according to the correction value. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the mode of arranging a virtual block in a table and performing the block correction process, and the example of the creation situation of the block correction data in a table. It is a flowchart explaining the 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the switching of the block correction data in a table and the block correction processing according to the temperature condition of the inkjet recording apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the printed wiring board of a recording medium. It is a schematic diagram which showed the reading situation of the alignment mark of the printed wiring board using a camera. It is a schematic diagram explaining the situation which converts the quadrangle which has four vertices of the alignment mark in image data into the quadrangle which has four vertices of the alignment mark of the printed wiring board which is a recording medium. It is a list in which the number of moving pixels calculated as a result of the above calculation is arranged according to the arrangement of blocks for each block. It is a chart diagram explaining the whole picture of the 1st example in 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the situation which set the predetermined phase after unifying the block size in the 1st block correction process and the 2nd block correction process. It is a schematic diagram which shows the situation which the block which needs to move more than 1 pixel is further divided so that one block does not move more than 1 pixel. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 1st example in 2nd Embodiment. It is a chart diagram explaining the whole picture of the 2nd example in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 2nd example in 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of an inkjet recording device used in the present embodiment.

The carriage 2 has an inkjet head 1 having a nozzle surface in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in the nozzle row direction, a control substrate 3 for controlling the nozzles, a sub tank 4 for supplying ink to the inkjet head 1, a camera 5 for photographing a recording medium 7, and the like. The camera lighting 6 and the like are mounted, and the X-axis drive unit 8 is driven to move in the left-right direction (X direction) of the paper surface.

A predetermined amount of ink for supplying ink to the lower inkjet head 1 is supplied to the sub tank 4. By operating the pump 11 by a signal of a liquid level sensor (not shown) and supplying ink from the main tank 10 to the sub tank 4, the ink in the sub tank 4 is maintained at a substantially constant liquid level so as to have a set liquid level. doing.

Further, the gas portion in the sub tank 4 is controlled to have a negative pressure by the negative pressure pump 9 so that the ink can be stably ejected without leaking from the nozzle of the inkjet head 1. By feeding back the measured value of the negative pressure sensor (not shown) to the negative pressure pump 9, a constant negative pressure value is always applied to the gas portion in the sub tank. Further, the ink can be forcibly discharged by switching the three-way valve 17 and applying a gas of 1 atm or more from the positive pressure pump 18 into the sub tank 4 to make the positive pressure.

The control personal computer 12 is connected to the control board 3 mounted on the carriage 2 via the interface board 13, and print data and print conditions can be set from the control personal computer 12. Further, the control personal computer 12 is equipped with a storage means 51 such as a memory capable of storing various necessary information such as block correction data in a table, which will be described later. Further, the control personal computer 12 has a selection means 55 realized by the operation of the CPU or the like, and for example, an appropriate one can be selected from a plurality of in-table block correction data stored in the storage means 51. ..

The recording medium 7 is adsorbed on the table 14 with a predetermined distance (preferably, but not limited to, about 1 mm to 3 mm) between the nozzle surface of the inkjet head 1 and the surface of the recording medium 7. Will be placed. By driving the Y-axis drive unit 15, the table 14 can be moved in the front and back directions (Y direction) of FIG. 1, which is a direction substantially orthogonal to the X direction. Further, the gantry mount and the Y-axis drive unit 15 (not shown) for supporting the X-axis drive unit 8 are all fixed on the base plate 16 which is sturdy and has high planar accuracy.

The inkjet head 1 is moved in the X direction by driving the X-axis drive unit 8, and the table 14 is moved in the Y direction by driving the Y-axis drive unit 15 in a state where the position of the inkjet head 1 in the X direction is fixed. Printing is performed by ejecting ink from the nozzle of the inkjet head 1 to the recording medium 7 while allowing the ink jet to be printed. Further, the inkjet head 1 is moved in the X direction by a predetermined distance by driving the X-axis drive unit 8, and the table 14 is moved in the Y direction by driving the Y-axis drive unit 15 in a state where the position of the inkjet head 1 in the X direction is fixed. Further printing is performed by ejecting ink from the nozzle of the inkjet head 1 to the recording medium 7 while moving the ink jet head 1.
Then, by alternately repeating the movement of the inkjet head 1 in the X direction and the movement of the table 14 in the Y direction with respect to the surface of the recording medium 7 placed on the entire surface of the table 14. It is possible to print on the entire surface in the X direction and the Y direction.

A linear motor, a ball screw, or other linearly movable drive means is applied to the X-axis drive unit 8 and the Y-axis drive unit 15, and further, a position detection means for detecting a mechanical position on the linear axis thereof is provided. Applies. In the present embodiment, various types of such position detecting means can be applied, and for example, a linear encoder can be used.

A linear encoder is a device that detects a position in a linear direction and outputs it as position information, and is also called a linear encoder, a positioning encoder, or a linear scale. A linear encoder is usually composed of a scale (scale) that serves as a ruler and a head (detector) that detects position information. In addition, there are two types of linear encoders: an optical type that uses light reflection to detect the scale, and a magnetic type that uses magnetism. Furthermore, an absolute type that measures the absolute position and a relative position measurement are performed. There is an increment type. In the present embodiment, whether or not the position detecting means is a linear encoder, and even when a linear encoder is applied, whether or not it is an optical type, a magnetic type, or another means, and an absolute type or an increment type. There are no restrictions on whether or not the means are other means, and appropriate methods can be adopted for each.

The temperature sensor 19 can measure the temperature inside the inkjet recording device and transfer the measured temperature data to the control personal computer 12 via a cable (not shown). In the inkjet recording apparatus exemplified in FIG. 1, an example in which a temperature sensor 19 is arranged at one place is shown, but a plurality of temperature sensors 19 may be installed and the temperature at a plurality of places may be measured.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an ideal moving trajectory in the Y direction of the table 14 and an example of an actual moving trajectory. As described above, the table 14 moves in the Y direction by driving the Y-axis drive unit 15. Here, in order to print the ink droplets on the surface of the recording medium 7 with high accuracy, the table 14 needs to move on an ideal straight line originally shown by the dotted line 20. However, in reality, the movement of the table 14 is affected by the mechanical accuracy error, and may cause a movement accuracy defect in which the table 14 moves due to a meandering movement trajectory as shown by the thick line 21, for example. In the example of FIG. 2, the table 14 follows the movement trajectory of the thick line 21 as it moves from the upstream to the downstream in the Y direction to the position 22, the position 23, and the position 24, and moves with a slight inclination.

Poor movement accuracy due to such mechanical accuracy error may occur due to the influence of the manufacturing accuracy, assembly accuracy, and the like of each component constituting the inkjet recording device. For example, the influence of the assembly accuracy of the table 14 and the Y-axis drive unit 15, the linear motion accuracy of the Y-axis drive unit 15 itself, the assembly accuracy of the Y-axis drive unit 15 and the base plate 16 and the like is assumed. Further, the movement instructed by the control personal computer 12 caused by the error of the absolute position accuracy of the linear encoder itself constituting the Y-axis drive unit 15 and the attachment accuracy of the linear encoder to the Y-axis drive unit 15. The influence of the error between the amount and the movement amount of the Y-axis drive unit 15 is also assumed.

As a matter of course, the poor movement accuracy due to such a mechanical accuracy error can also occur in the movement of the inkjet head 1 in the X direction by driving the X-axis drive unit 8. For example, the influence of the assembly accuracy of the inkjet head 1, the carriage 2, and the X-axis drive unit 8, the linear motion accuracy of the X-axis drive unit 8 itself, and the like is assumed. Further, the movement instructed by the control personal computer 12 caused by the error of the absolute position accuracy of the linear encoder itself constituting the X-axis drive unit 8 and the attachment accuracy of the linear encoder to the X-axis drive unit 8. The influence of the error between the amount and the movement amount of the Y-axis drive unit 15 is also assumed.

Due to the poor movement accuracy due to the mechanical accuracy error, the ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 1 do not land at the intended position on the surface of the recording medium 7, resulting in poor landing accuracy, resulting in deterioration of recording quality. However, depending on the means for improving the machine accuracy itself, such as selecting more accurate parts to improve the machine accuracy error and improving the accuracy to improve the assembly accuracy, the parts price may increase and the assembly work man-hours may increase. It will lead to an increase.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, information on the relative positional deviation between the inkjet head 1 and the table 14 is acquired, and the image data used for image recording is stored in a block described later according to the acquired information. By deforming the image by performing a correction process, the landing position of the ink is adjusted according to the state of poor movement accuracy due to a mechanical accuracy error, thereby improving the deterioration of recording quality. Hereinafter, the correction process in the first embodiment will be described in detail.

First, as a premise of the description of the first embodiment, a block correction process including block division and block movement of image data will be described.

As a premise, the purpose of using the block correction process will be explained. When the method of simply deforming the printed image data is taken to correct the machine accuracy error, one pixel line disappears by the reduction because there is an element of enlargement / reduction of the printed image data due to the nature of the image processing. A phenomenon or a phenomenon that one pixel line becomes a two-pixel line by enlargement may occur. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a phenomenon that occurs when scaling is performed. As shown in FIG. 3, a phenomenon that one pixel line disappears by reduction and a phenomenon that one pixel line becomes two pixel lines by enlargement may occur. These phenomena do not always occur at the time of enlargement / reduction, and may occur with a certain probability depending on the magnification of enlargement / reduction. For example, if the image data of 1000 × 1000 pixels is reduced to 99%, it is necessary to delete one pixel for every 100 pixels, for a total of 10 pixels. At this time, one pixel line disappears as shown in FIG. 3A. There is a possibility that Further, when the image is reduced to 101%, it is necessary to increase the image for 10 pixels in total, which is 1 pixel for every 100 pixels, and usually the adjacent pixels are repeated. There is a possibility that it will become. When such a phenomenon occurs, a phenomenon in which printing is not performed in a portion where printing should be performed or a phenomenon in which printing is performed in a position where printing should not be performed occurs. Therefore, by dividing the print image data into blocks and moving the blocks according to the machine accuracy error, it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned problem of enlargement / reduction of the print image data and realize the deformation of the image.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the block correction process. In FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the image data 44 of 100 pixels × 100 pixels is divided into four blocks 47 of 50 × 50 pixels, and the lower right (most downstream in the X direction and Y direction) block 47 is divided into four blocks 47. A simplified example of moving is used. A representative point 76 is designated as a reference origin of the block 47 in each block 47. One representative point may be designated at a predetermined position such as the upper left, the center, the lower left, and other positions of each block 47, but in this example, the upper left of each block 47 (the most upstream in the X direction and the Y direction). ). The movement of each block 47 is performed by setting the movement amount of the representative point 76 of each block 47 and moving the entire block 47 according to the movement of each of the representative points 76.

FIG. 4A shows a state before the block correction process is performed, in which the four blocks are arranged adjacent to each other without movement. In FIG. 4B, the lower right block 47 is moved by one pixel in the enlargement direction downstream in the X direction. As a result, the image data transformation equivalent to the transformation into the image data of 101 × 100 pixels is realized as the whole image data. Further, in FIG. 4C, the lower right block 47 is moved by one pixel in the expansion direction downstream in the X direction and one pixel in the reduction direction upstream in the Y direction. As a result, as for the entire image data, the image data transformation equivalent to the transformation into the image data of 101 × 100 pixels is realized as in FIG. 4 (b). Considering the block 47 on the upper left as a reference, the three blocks 47 on the upper right, the lower left, and the lower right can be moved by one pixel at the top, bottom, left, and right.

Here, when the block correction process is performed in the present embodiment, the deterioration of the print image quality caused by the block correction process can be avoided by keeping the movement amount of each block 47 within one pixel. This point will be described below.

First, in the block correction process, when the block 47 is moved in the enlargement direction by one pixel, the distance between the block 47 and the other adjacent blocks 47 is separated by one pixel.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the image data of the checkered pattern is moved by one pixel from the upstream to the downstream in the X direction for enlargement. In this example, by moving one pixel from the upstream to the downstream in the X direction, the length in the lateral direction (X direction) is increased from 16 pixels to 17 pixels and expanded.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state of formation of ink dots before and after enlargement in the enlarged portion when the image of FIG. 5 is printed. Note that FIG. 6 uses an example in which the resolution of the image data is 2880 dpi. When the ink dots 48 and the ink dots 49 move by one pixel relatively in the enlargement direction, if the image data is 2880 dpi, the interval of one pixel of the image data is about 8.8 μm, which is equivalent to one pixel in the enlargement direction. When moved, the interval doubles to 17.6 μm. At this time, the ink droplet size of one pixel after printing is wet and spread on the recording medium, and the ink dots 48 and the ink dots 49 each have a diameter of about 50 μm. Therefore, as a result of moving the adjacent pixels of the image data in the enlargement direction by one pixel, even if the ink dots 48 and the ink dots 49 move 8.8 μm in the enlargement direction, the ink dots 48 and the ink dots 49 still overlap each other. No white streaks occur.

Further, when the block 47 is moved in the reduction direction by one pixel, the block 47 and another block 47 adjacent to the block 47 overlap each other by one pixel.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the image data of the checkered pattern is moved by one pixel from the downstream to the upstream in the X direction for reduction. In this example, by moving one pixel from the downstream to the upstream in the X direction, the length in the lateral direction (X direction) is reduced from 16 pixels to 15 pixels. By moving in the reduction direction, the lines of the reduced part will overlap. When the image data has a checkered pattern as in this example, the image data of the overlapped portion is ORed, so that the image is a solid image with a density of 100%.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state of formation of ink dots before and after enlargement in the enlarged portion when the image of FIG. 7 is printed. Also in FIG. 8, an example in which the resolution of the image data is 2880 dpi is used. As described above, assuming that the image data is 2880 dpi, the interval of one pixel of the image data is about 8.8 μm. Then, when it is moved by one pixel in the reduction direction, the interval becomes about 0 μm. Then, the ink droplet size of one pixel after printing is wet and spread on the recording medium, and has a diameter of about 50 μm. As described above, the ink dots 48 and the ink dots 49 are still overlapped before and after the reduction, and the printed matter as a whole has almost no effect on the recording quality and the phenomenon such as black streaks does not occur.

As described above, in the block correction process, by keeping the movement amount of the block 47 within one pixel, it is possible to avoid deterioration of the print image quality due to the block correction. Various methods are assumed to keep the movement amount of the block 47 within one pixel, but when there is a block 47 in which the movement amount of the block 47 exceeds one pixel, the size of all the blocks 47 is large. By setting to be even smaller, the amount of movement of each block 47 can be contained within one pixel. Further, from the viewpoint of improving the processing speed by minimizing the number of blocks 47 that need to be moved and minimizing the overall movement amount of the block 47, the movement amount of the block 47 is increased. It can also be the maximum size within one pixel.

Further, in the block correction process, another method of keeping the movement amount of the block 47 within one pixel will be described. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a situation in which a block that requires movement of more than one pixel is further divided so that one block does not move more than one pixel. In the example of FIG. 23, when there is a block 47 having a movement amount of more than 1 pixel, only the block 47 having a movement amount of more than 1 pixel is further divided, and each of the divided blocks 47 is moved by one pixel. I'm letting you. Also by this method, the amount of movement of the block 47 can be contained within one pixel.

The above is the outline of the block correction process which is the premise of the first embodiment.

Next, a method of acquiring information relating to the relative positional deviation between the table 14 and the inkjet head 1 when the table 14 and the inkjet head 1 move relative to each other in the X direction and the Y direction will be described.

In the inkjet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a linear motor or a ball screw is used as the drive unit of the X-axis drive unit 8 or the Y-axis drive unit 15, and a linear encoder can be used as the position detection means thereof. The linear encoder detects the position in the linear direction and outputs it as position information. However, as described in FIG. 2, the relative position accuracy required for the table 14 and the inkjet head 1 is realized due to the problem of mechanical accuracy error such as the non-linear movement of the table 14 and the mounting accuracy of the linear encoder. It may not be possible. Then, due to a mechanical accuracy error, the actual position may differ from the position information output from the linear encoder with respect to the relative position between the table 14 and the inkjet head 1.

As described above, in the inkjet recording device, a machine accuracy error may occur due to the influence of the manufacturing accuracy, assembly accuracy, etc. of each component constituting the inkjet recording device, and thus the machine accuracy error is improved by the block correction process. As a premise, it is necessary to acquire information related to the relative positional deviation between the actual table 14 and the inkjet head 1. Therefore, a method of acquiring information related to the relative positional deviation will be described below.

Various reference position information generation means are applied in order to acquire information relating to the relative positional deviation between the table 14 and the inkjet head 1. Based on the difference between the reference position coordinates, which is the reference position information generated by the reference position information generation means, and the linear encoder coordinates, which are the position information acquired from the linear encoders of the X-axis drive unit 8 and the Y-axis drive unit 15. , Acquire information related to relative positional deviation.

As the reference position information generation means, a means capable of measuring a reference position on a plane in the X direction and the Y direction is applied. For example, various things such as a laser length measuring machine and various plane scales can be applied, but a means having a small shape change due to a temperature change, a physical impact, or the like is preferable. As one of the reference position information generation means having a feature that the shape change due to a temperature change or a physical impact is small, a glass scale having a small coefficient of thermal expansion and a small accuracy error due to an ambient temperature is assumed.

When a laser length measuring machine is used, for example, the position information in the X direction acquired from the linear encoder is used for a plurality of points in the Y direction on the carriage 2 with reference to the position information acquired from the laser length measuring machine. And, by comparing the position information of each of the multiple points acquired using the laser length measuring machine, the deviation between the true position information acquired from the laser length measuring machine and the position information acquired from the linear encoder is confirmed. Further, with respect to the plurality of points in the X direction in the table 14, the position information in the Y direction acquired from the linear encoder and the position information of each of the plurality of points acquired by using the laser length measuring machine are compared with each other from the laser length measuring machine. By confirming the deviation between the acquired true position information and the position information acquired from the linear encoder, it is possible to acquire information relating to the relative positional deviation between the X direction and the Y direction.

In this embodiment, a glass scale is used as a reference position measuring means. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the camera 5 is mounted on the carriage 2 on which the inkjet head 1 is mounted in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the inkjet head 1, and the position of the inkjet head 1 is located at the position of the camera 5. Asked accordingly. Further, the position information of the table 14 is obtained based on the reference mark of the glass scale placed on the table 14.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a glass scale. Reference marks 26 having a diameter of 0.5 mm are arranged on the outer surface of the glass scale 25 at intervals of 10 mm. The accuracy of the glass scale used in this example is preferably about + -1 μm. The plurality of reference marks 26 are aligned in the X direction and the Y direction with an accuracy of 10 mm + -1 μm. In the example of the glass scale 25 shown in FIG. 9, eight reference marks 26 are arranged in the X direction and eight reference marks 26 are arranged in the Y direction, so that the glass scale 25 has a reference of 70 mm × 70 mm size. The size and accuracy of the glass scale 25 can be variously applied depending on the application.

Then, the glass scale 25 is placed on the table 14, and the reference mark 26 of the glass scale 25 is read by using the camera 5. The reading of the reference mark will be described below.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a reading situation of a glass scale using a camera. FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram of an image pickup frame of the camera 5. The outer camera frame 27 shows the entire field of view of the camera 5. For example, when the number of pixels of 1280 pixels × 1024 pixels and the resolution per pixel is 5 μm, the field of view in the X direction is 1280 pixels × 5 μm = 6.4 mm. , The field of view in the Y direction is 1024 pixels × 5 μm = 5.12 mm. The intersection 28, which is the intersection of the dotted lines, indicates the center of the camera frame 27. By imaging the reference mark 26, which is the reference position, and measuring the amount of deviation between the reference mark 26 and the intersection 28, the inkjet head 1 mounted on the carriage 2 on which the camera 5 is mounted and the table 14 Get information about the relative position shift of.

FIG. 10B is an example of the imaging situation of the reference mark 26, and shows a state in which the reference mark 26 having a diameter of 0.5 mm is imaged at the intersection 28 which is the center of the camera frame 27. The fact that the reference mark 26 is imaged as shown in FIG. 10 (b) means that the position of the reference mark 26 imaged in FIG. 10 (b) is the relative position between the inkjet head 1 and the table 14. It means that there is no deviation.

Further, FIG. 10C is also an example of the imaging situation of the reference mark 26. In this example, the reference mark 26 of the glass scale is in the X direction and the Y direction from the intersection 28 of the camera frame, and the X coordinate correction values 31 and Y. It shows a state in which the image is imaged with a deviation corresponding to the coordinate correction value 32. The fact that the image is taken as shown in FIG. 10 (c) means that the relative position of the reference mark 26 imaged in FIG. 10 (c) is displaced, and correction is required. It shows that it will be. Since the X-coordinate correction value 31 and the Y-coordinate correction value 32 in the figure are captured by the camera, they are acquired by the number of pixels. When the resolution per pixel of the camera 5 is 5 μm as in the above example, the values of the X coordinate correction value 31 × 5 μm and the Y coordinate correction value 32 × 5 μm are the respective deviation amounts. Even if the camera resolution is 5 μm / pixel, as will be described later, since the reference position coordinates are measured at the center of gravity of the reference mark 26, the reference position coordinates can be measured with a resolution finer than 5 μm.

An overview of the occurrence of relative positional deviations obtained by imaging the reference mark 26 will be described. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an overall image of the occurrence of deviation between the linear encoder coordinates and the reference mark in the table plane. FIG. 11A shows the reference mark 26 of the glass scale 25 exemplified in FIG. 9, and the linear encoder coordinates 52 corresponding to each of the reference marks 26. Assuming that the reference marks 26 are arranged on the glass scale 25 at intervals of 10 mm, the carriage 2 can be moved by 10 mm each for the X-axis drive unit 8 and the Y-axis drive unit 15 according to the position information acquired from the linear encoder. Originally, the linear encoder coordinates 52 and the reference position coordinates acquired from the reference mark 26 should match. However, due to the mechanical accuracy error generated by the above-mentioned complex factor, the linear encoder coordinate 52 and the reference position coordinate originally corresponding to the linear encoder coordinate 52 actually have a different amount of deviation depending on the location.

FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of a certain reference mark 26 and the corresponding linear encoder coordinates 52. The intersection of the dotted lines on the reference mark 26 is the center of the reference mark 26 and indicates the reference position coordinates. Then, the difference from the linear encoder coordinate 52 becomes the X coordinate correction value 31 and the Y coordinate correction value 32.

A numerical example of the coordinate information acquired in the above process will be described. FIG. 12 is a list showing a part of the linear encoder coordinates in the reference position coordinates in the predetermined column in the X direction and the calculated correction values obtained by measuring the glass scale with a camera. The unit of the numerical value is μm. The linear encoder coordinates indicate the position information acquired from the linear encoder. The reference position coordinates indicate the reference position information acquired from the reference mark 26 of the glass scale 25, and the camera 5 is moved in the X direction at 10 mm intervals based on the position information of the linear encoder, and the reference mark of the glass scale 25 at that time. It is a value measured by an alignment camera at the center value (center of gravity) of 26. The numerical values of the blocks adjacent to each other in the X direction are recorded for each row in the table of FIG.

The column of "linear encoder coordinates" shown in the table of FIG. 12 is the X and Y coordinates based on the position information of the linear encoder moved in the X direction in 10 mm steps, and the column of "reference position coordinates" is from the image captured by the alignment camera. The X and Y coordinates are based on the calculated position information of the reference mark 26 of the glass scale 25. When the glass scale 25 illustrated in FIG. 9 is used, since there are 8 × 8 reference marks 26 in the X direction and the Y direction, the information of the reference position coordinates corresponding to the reference marks 26 of 64 points in total is the camera 5. It will be captured as XY coordinates via. The difference between the position information of the linear encoder coordinates and the position information of the reference position coordinates is an example of the "relative position deviation" to be corrected, and an example of this value is the "correction value" in the table of FIG. Shown in the column. In the case of the linear encoder coordinates in the first row of the table of FIG. 12, the error of the X coordinate is 6364-6423 = −59 μm, and the error of the Y coordinate is 47479-47471 = 8 μm. When it is necessary to print 2880 dpi image data, the interval of one pixel is about 8.8 μm, the X coordinate is 59 / 8.8 = 6.7 pixels, and this position has a cumulative deviation of about 7 pixels. There will be. Further, the Y coordinate is 8 / 8.8 = 0.9 pixel, and this position has a cumulative deviation of about 1 pixel. Further, as shown in the correction value 43, the difference is within one pixel in the blocks adjacent to the XY coordinates.

In the inkjet recording apparatus to which the present embodiment is applied, a more remarkable effect is exhibited particularly in high-resolution printing. For example, an inkjet recording device further forms ink dots between each ink dot formed by performing a plurality of recording operations by the inkjet head 1 on a unit recording area on the surface of the recording medium 7, and the spacing between the nozzles. When multi-pass printing is performed to perform image recording that complements the above, if the resolution of the inkjet head 1 used is 600 dpi, a print resolution of 2400 dpi can be realized, and if the resolution of the inkjet head 1 used is 360 dpi, printing of 2880 dpi is performed. Achieve resolution. Therefore, in the following description, a resolution of 2400 dpi or 2880 dpi will be described as an example.

Through the above process, the machine in which the value of the position information of the reference position coordinates is true at the interval at which the reference mark 26 of the glass scale 25 is arranged with respect to the entire table 14, which is the premise of the block correction process. It is possible to calculate the correction value, which is a numerical value to be corrected according to the relative position deviation due to the accuracy error. Based on the acquired correction value, block correction processing is performed on the entire image data to be printed, the image data is deformed according to the relative positional deviation, and the machine accuracy error is corrected.

First, the outline of the block correction process for the machine accuracy error will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a modification example of the image data according to the correction value. The transformed image shape 45 shows the outer shape of the converted printed image data obtained by transforming the image data 44 according to the mechanical accuracy of the apparatus, and the converted image data 46 is indicated by an outer dotted line. There is. The inner block 47 shows the state after movement, and has a shape laid out in the image shape after deformation, but a part thereof is illustrated here. The image block moves up, down, left, and right while maintaining a predetermined value, for example, within one pixel, and is converted into image data 46 that substantially matches the machine accuracy distortion as a whole.

Further, the mechanical accuracy error of the actual device is inverted to the shape opposite to the shape of the image data after the deformation. The deformed image shape 45 is shown as a deformed shape as shown for convenience of explanation, but if the mechanical accuracy error is 500 mm in length and 100 μm or less, the actual deformation will be slight. .. Blank data is arranged between the deformed image shape 45 and the converted image data 46 because they are not actually printed.

By processing in this way, it is possible to avoid the problem that one pixel line disappears due to reduction as described above, or one pixel line becomes two pixel lines due to enlargement, and the whole is not linearly processed at once and is blocked. Since the correction can be made different for each, it is possible to correct even a non-linear distortion as shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an embodiment in which a virtual block is arranged in a table to perform a block correction process and an example of a state in which block correction data in the table is created. In order to correct the machine accuracy error, a virtual block is set on the table 14 as a block 47 corresponding to the reference position coordinates of each reference mark 26 as shown by a dotted line grid in FIG. 14, and a predetermined position of each virtual block is set. As described above, the representative point 76 is set, and the correction value acquired by the above method is applied to the representative point 76, and the entire virtual block including the representative point 76 is applied according to the movement of the representative point 76. By moving the Often, a state equivalent to when the inkjet head 1 and the table 14 move relative to each other is realized. For this purpose, the block correction data in the table is created in advance before printing, stored in the storage means 51 of the control personal computer 12, and referred to at the time of printing, so that the machine accuracy error is corrected in each printing operation. It is possible to print with.

FIG. 14A shows a state in which the entire table 14 is divided by virtual blocks and divided by dotted lines to arrange the virtual blocks. For example, virtual blocks are arranged and set at intervals of 10 mm in the X direction and the Y direction from the origin on the upper left of the table. The upper left portion of the table 14 in which the virtual blocks of FIG. 14 (a) are arranged is enlarged, and the correction values in each of the above-mentioned blocks are shown in the tables shown in FIGS. 14 (b) and 14 (c). The unit is μm. FIG. 14B is a correction value in the X direction, and FIG. 14C is a correction value in the Y direction. In this way, the entire surface of the table is divided into blocks, for example, at intervals of 10 mm, and the correction values in the XY directions are recorded in each block, which is the block correction data in the table.

In the block correction process, since the image data is deformed, it is necessary to convert the correction value into pixels. It is assumed that the correction value is converted by setting a predetermined threshold value according to the measured correction value and the print resolution. For example, in an image with 2880 dpi and a pixel resolution of 8.8 μm, if the amount of deviation is 0 to 4.4 μm, the block correction data in the table is set to move 0 pixels as a block that does not move the block, and the deviation is from 4.5. If the deviation amount is 13.2 μm, the movement is 1 pixel, if the deviation amount is 13.3 to 22 μm, the movement is 2 pixels, if the deviation amount is 22.1 to 30.8 μm, the movement is 3 pixels, and so on. It is expected to be set.

According to the above threshold setting example, for example, the number of pixels moved from the left in the first row of FIG. 14B is 0,0,1,1,1,1,1. The second line is 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, and the third line is 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, and so on. To be set or set. In the case of the 7th line, it becomes -1, -1, -1, 0, 0, 0, 0, but when there is -in this way, the moving direction is opposite.

As described above, the block correction data in the table of FIGS. 14 (b) and 14 (c) is stored in the storage means 51 as information related to the relative positional deviation between the table 14 and the inkjet head 1, as described above. By referencing before printing, you can block, move, and composite the image to be printed.
As the block correction data in the table, the value after being converted into the number of pixels may be stored in the storage means 51.

The process of the block correction process in the first embodiment described above will be described with reference to the flowchart. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment. FIG. 15A is a step performed before the printing operation is executed, and FIG. 15B is a step performed in each printing operation. This block correction process is performed by the control personal computer 12 in which the program corresponding to the flow of FIG. 15 is stored.

First, the flowchart of FIG. 15A will be described. In the flow 101, the glass scale 25 is placed on the table 14, and then in the flow 102, the reference mark 26 arranged on the glass scale 25 on the table 14 is imaged by the processing of the control personal computer 12. Then, the center coordinates are calculated based on the acquired image data, and the coordinate positions of the reference mark 26 are measured. In the flow 103, the difference between the coordinate position data output from the linear encoder and the position coordinate data of the reference mark 26 corresponding thereto is calculated by the processing of the control personal computer 12. Then, in the flow 104, a virtual block corresponding to each of the reference marks 26 is set on the table 14 by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and the correction value acquired by the method of the flow 103 is applied to the virtual block. Create the block correction data in the above table for this purpose. Then, in the flow 105, the block correction data in the table is stored in the storage means 51 by the processing of the control personal computer 12. The above process is a process performed before the printing operation is executed. The above steps can be carried out before the manufacture of the inkjet recording apparatus, or can be appropriately carried out depending on the state of print quality after the manufacture.

Next, the flowchart of FIG. 15B will be described. First, in the flow 106, the block correction data in the table is acquired from the storage means by the processing of the control personal computer 12. Next, in the flow 107, the print image data is divided into blocks by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and the movement amount of each block is calculated in pixel units from the coordinates of the print start position, the block correction data in the table, and the print resolution. In the process of flow 107, the block correction data in the table recorded in units of μm by the processing of the control personal computer 12 is changed to the pixel unit according to the printed image, and the recorded medium is further set to any position coordinate on the table 14. It is also possible to perform block correction of image data by reflecting the information on whether or not the image is placed.
Then, in the flow 108, each block is moved by the processing of the control personal computer 12 according to the movement amount calculated in the flow 107, and in the flow 109, the moved blocks are combined to generate image data.

Through the above steps, the block correction process is performed on the printed image data, and the machine accuracy error can be corrected.

By the way, the above-mentioned mechanical accuracy error may vary depending on the temperature condition of each member constituting the inkjet recording device. That is, in the case of the inkjet recording device of FIG. 1, the X-axis drive unit 8, the Y-axis drive unit 15, the linear encoder mounted on each drive unit, and the portal mount to which the X-axis drive unit 8 is assembled. Members such as the table 14 and the base plate 16 are made of a plurality of materials such as aluminum and iron, and the coefficient of thermal expansion of each material is different. In addition, it is assumed that the occurrence of mechanical accuracy error due to temperature changes will differ depending on the assembly status of each member, such as the tightening strength of screws. Therefore, a plurality of in-table block correction data according to the temperature condition of the inkjet recording device are acquired in advance, and the corresponding in-table block correction data is referred to according to the temperature condition of the inkjet recording device to perform block correction processing. Can be carried out.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating switching of block correction data in the table and block correction processing according to the temperature condition of the inkjet recording device. In the example of FIG. 16, for example, the block correction data in the table having a temperature of 4 ° C. is prepared in advance by the process described with reference to FIG. 15 and stored in the storage means 51. Then, according to the temperature information acquired from the temperature sensor 19 mounted on the inkjet recording device, the control personal computer 12 acquires from the block correction data in the table of each temperature stored in the recording means via the selection means 55. The block correction data in the table that is closer to the obtained temperature information is selected and referred to, and is used for the block correction process.

If it is necessary to select in-table block correction data according to finer temperature changes, it is possible to store in-table block correction data for each finer temperature, or in-table blocks according to two adjacent temperatures. It is also possible to generate in-table block correction data according to the temperature between them by linear complementation using the correction data. For example, in the example of FIG. 16, when it is desired to create an in-table block correction table at 21 ° C., for example, each element (A) of the table at 20 ° C. and each element (B) of the table at 24 ° C. are (A *). It can be obtained by linear interpolation of 3 + B * 1) / 4.

Further, the second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 26.

As a second embodiment, a first block correction process for applying a block correction process for image data according to a shape error of a recording medium, and as a second block correction process, a block correction process in the first embodiment. An example of applying is described.

As a suitable example to which the second embodiment is applied, the recording medium is a printed wiring board on which a copper pattern is already formed, and a resist material which is an insulator in an inkjet recording apparatus is used to manufacture a printed wiring board. It is expected that it will be given as a post-process. In such a case, since a slight formation accuracy error may occur in the shape of the printed wiring board itself, the copper pattern formed by the exposure apparatus, etc., the alignment mark arranged on the printed wiring board is used. It is assumed that it is necessary to adjust the position where the resist material should be applied at the stage of the post-process.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a printed wiring board of a recording medium. The printed circuit board 53 has a wiring pattern portion 58 which is a region in which wiring is formed of a conductor such as copper or silver, and the outer periphery of the wiring pattern portion 58 is different in two directions, the X direction and the Y direction. A plurality of alignment marks 54 (4 locations in the example of FIG. 17) are arranged depending on the arrangement relationship. When the resist material is applied using the inkjet recording device of FIG. 1, the alignment mark 54 arranged by the camera 5 is imaged, the center coordinates of each are calculated, and the position of the alignment mark in the image data is used. If there is a difference in the coordinate positions of the alignment marks captured by the camera, it is necessary to deform the image data according to the coordinate positions of the alignment marks captured by the camera 5. By going through this step, the resist material can be applied to the intended position without an accuracy error based on the image data deformed according to the accuracy error generated in the printed wiring board 53.

Hereinafter, reading of the alignment mark 54 on the printed wiring board 53 will be described.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the reading status of the alignment mark of the printed wiring board using the camera. FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram of the image pickup frame of the camera 5. Similar to the description of FIG. 10, the outer camera frame 27 shows the entire field of view of the camera 5. For example, when the number of pixels of 1280 pixels × 1024 pixels and the resolution per pixel is 5 μm, the field of view in the X direction is 1280. The pixel × 5 μm = 6.4 mm, and the field of view in the Y direction is 1024 pixels × 5 μm = 5.12 mm. The intersection 28, which is the intersection of the dotted lines, indicates the center of the camera frame 27. The shape accuracy error of the printed wiring board 53 can be measured by measuring the amount of deviation between the alignment mark 54 and the intersection 28 of the arranged alignment marks 54.

The alignment mark 54 is read by the camera 5 according to the mounting position of the printed wiring board 53 on the table 14. Therefore, the information on the mounting position coordinates of the recorded medium 17 on the table 14, such as the deviation and inclination of the mounting position on the table 14, of the printed wiring board 53, which is a kind of the recorded medium 7, is the printed wiring board. The alignment mark 54 of 53 is also grasped by reading. The second embodiment of the second embodiment uses the data corresponding to the coordinates on the table 14 of the block correction data in the table according to the information on the placement position coordinates of the recorded medium 17 on the table 14 grasped here. The second block correction process will be carried out.

FIG. 18B is an example of the imaging situation of the alignment mark 54, and shows a state in which the alignment mark 54 having a diameter of 0.5 mm is imaged at the intersection 28 which is the center of the camera frame 27. The fact that the alignment mark 54 is imaged as shown in FIG. 18B means that there is no accuracy error at the position of the alignment mark 54 in FIG. 18B.

Further, FIG. 18C is also an example of the imaging situation of the alignment mark 54. In this example, the alignment mark 54 has the X coordinate correction value 31 and the Y coordinate correction value in the X direction and the Y direction from the intersection 28 of the camera frame. It shows a state in which the image is imaged with a deviation corresponding to 32. The fact that the image is taken as shown in FIG. 18 (c) indicates that an accuracy error has occurred at the position of the alignment mark 54 in FIG. 18 (c), and correction is required. ing. Since the X-coordinate correction value 31 and the Y-coordinate correction value 32 in the figure are captured by the camera, they are acquired by the number of pixels. When the resolution per pixel of the camera 5 is 5 μm as in the above example, the values of the X coordinate correction value 31 × 5 μm and the Y coordinate correction value 32 × 5 μm are the respective deviation amounts. Even if the camera resolution is 5 μm / pixel, the coordinates of the alignment mark 54 are measured at the center of gravity, so that the measurement can be performed with a resolution finer than 5 μm. The image data will be transformed using the correction value acquired here.

First, as a premise of the description of the second embodiment, the deformation process of deforming the image data according to the accuracy error of the printed wiring board 53 by using the correction value based on the alignment mark acquired by the method described in FIG. An example will be described.

In this description, the coordinates of the alignment mark on the image data are (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4), and the alignment mark of the printed wiring board 53 calculated by the camera 5 is set. Let the coordinates of be (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3), (x4, y4). Here, the shapes of (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4) are (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3), (x4, Deformation processing such as y4) will be performed on the image data.

From such a quadrangle formed by the four-point coordinates of (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4), (x1, y1), (x2, y2), ( The transformation process to a quadrangle formed by the four-point coordinates of x3, y3), (x4, y4) is not a simple translation, rotation, or scaling in the XY directions of the coordinates, but from an arbitrary quadrangle to another arbitrary quadrangle. It becomes an arbitrary quadrangle conversion coefficient which is a conversion of. Therefore, for example, the conversion of (Xi, Yi) to (xi, yi) uses the following equation to calculate an arbitrary quadrangle conversion coefficient for conversion to an arbitrary quadrangle.
xi = A * Xi * Yi + B * Xi + C * Yi + D
yi = E * Xi * Yi + F * Xi + G * Yi + H
Here, B is the main coefficient of xi and indicates the scaling factor in the X direction. A and C are coefficients that affect Y and are used to express distortion. D is a coefficient representing translation. The same applies to E, F, G, and H, where G is the main coefficient of yi and indicates the magnification in the Y direction. E and F are coefficients that affect X and are used to express distortion. H is a coefficient representing translation. Since there are a total of eight expressions here, eight variables can be obtained.
Equation 1;
x1 = A * X1 * Y1 + B * X1 + C * Y1 + D
x2 = A * X2 * Y2 + B * X2 + C * Y2 + D
x3 = A * X3 * Y3 + B * X3 + C * Y3 + D
x4 = A * X4 * Y4 + B * X4 + C * Y4 + D
y1 = E * X1 * Y1 + F * X1 + G * Y1 + H
y2 = E * X2 * Y2 + F * X2 + G * Y2 + H
y3 = E * X3 * Y3 + F * X3 + G * Y3 + H
y4 = E * X4 * Y4 + F * X4 + G * Y4 + H
Any point (Xi, Yi) can be converted to (xi, yi) using the numerical values of A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H calculated by this formula.

By the way, the above-mentioned deformation processing example also has the same problem as the problem described in the first embodiment. That is, since this process has an element of enlargement / reduction of image data due to its nature, a phenomenon that one pixel line disappears by reduction or a phenomenon that one pixel line becomes two pixel lines by enlargement may occur. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a phenomenon that occurs when scaling is performed. As shown in FIG. 3, a phenomenon that one pixel line disappears by reduction and a phenomenon that one pixel line becomes two pixel lines by enlargement may occur. These phenomena do not always occur at the time of enlargement / reduction, and may occur with a certain probability depending on the magnification of enlargement / reduction. For example, if the image data of 1000 × 1000 pixels is reduced to 99%, it is necessary to delete one pixel in 100 pixels, for a total of 10 pixels, and at this time, one pixel line may disappear as shown in FIG. Sex occurs. Also, if it is reduced to 101%, it is necessary to increase the image for 1 pixel in 100 pixels, for a total of 10 pixels, and normally the adjacent pixels are repeated, so 1 pixel line can become 2 pixel lines as shown in the lower part of FIG. Sex occurs. When such a phenomenon occurs, a phenomenon in which printing is not performed in a portion where printing should be performed or a phenomenon in which printing is performed in a position where printing should not be performed occurs. When such a phenomenon occurs, when it is necessary to perform printing on a recording medium such as a printed wiring board 53, which requires high-precision printing, the print quality may be particularly significantly affected.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, it is effective to perform the block correction processing also in the deformation processing of the image data according to the accuracy error of the shape of the recording medium.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a situation in which a quadrangle having four vertices in the image data is converted into a quadrangle having four vertices in the alignment mark of the printed wiring board as the recording medium. For convenience of explanation, the coordinates of the four vertices of the alignment mark in the image data 44 are set to (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4), and the alignment of the printed wiring board 53 is performed. Let the four vertices of the mark be (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3), (x4, y4). Further, the image data 44 is a square with vertical and horizontal P pixels, and the block size is also vertical and horizontal L pixels.

The image data 44 is usually rectangular, and when fitted to the copper foil of the printed substrate, it is assumed that the rectangular image data will be the image shape 60 after the block correction for the shape error, and the printed image data at that time will be the shape. The image data shape 61 is obtained after the block correction for the error is modified. Further, in this example, it is assumed that the image data 44 is divided into 20 vertical and horizontal blocks 47, which is a total of 400 blocks 47.
As described above, assuming that the maximum moving distance to the adjacent block 47 is within 1 pixel, the maximum enlargement size is P + 19 pixels and the minimum reduction size is P-19 pixels in both the Y direction and the X direction. If the image data of the image shape 60 cannot be generated even with this maximum enlarged size P + 19 pixels, it is necessary to increase the number of divisions of the block 47 to 20 or more.

Here, for convenience of explanation, the coordinates of the four vertices of the alignment mark in the image data 44 are (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3), (X4, Y4) and printed wiring. It is assumed that the coordinates of the four vertices of the alignment mark 54 of the substrate 53 are (x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3), and (x4, y4) as follows.
Condition 1;
(X1, Y1) = (0,0), (X2, Y2) = (200,000, 0),
(X3, Y3) = (200,000, 200,000), (X4, Y4) = (0,200,000)
(X1, y1) = (0,0), (x2, y2) = (199,900, -100),
(X3, y3) = 200,100,200,100), (x4, y4) = (-100,199,900)
The unit is μm. That is, the origins on the upper left are the same, the upper right corner is 100 μm minus after deformation with XY, the lower right corner is 100 μm plus after deformation with XY, and the lower left corner is 100 μm minus after deformation with XY. positioned. Since P = 200 mm and the maximum amount of deviation of the coordinates of the four points is 100 μm, there is no large deformation to the extent visually obvious as shown in FIG. 19, but for convenience of explanation, the deformation is displayed so as to be visually obvious. doing. The numerical values of (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), (X3, Y3), and (X4, Y4) can actually be obtained from the image data, and (x1, y1), (x2). , Y2), (x3, y3), (x4, y4) are generated by measuring the alignment mark 54 captured by the camera 5 as described with reference to FIG.

Next, the above-mentioned conversion coefficients A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are obtained.
Condition 1; is substituted into Equation 1; and conversion coefficients A, B, C, and D are obtained.
0 = A * 0 * 0 + B * 0 + C * 0 + D
199900 = A * 200000 * 0 + B * 200000 + C * 0 + D
200100 = A * 200,000 * 200,000 + B * 200,000 + C * 200,000 + D
-100 = A * 0 * 20000 + B * 0 + C * 200000 + D
Solving the four simultaneous equations yields A = 7.5E-09, B = 0.9995, C = -0.0005, and D = 0.
Here, B is the main coefficient of xi, and indicates the magnification in the X direction, which is 0.9995, which is a value close to 1. A and C are coefficients that affect Y and are used to express distortion. Since the distortion is small, A = 7.5E-09 and C = -0.0005, which are quite small values. D is a coefficient representing translation, but here it is 0 because it is not translated.

Further, the condition 1; is substituted into the equation 1 ;, and the conversion coefficients E, F, G, and H are obtained.
0 = E * 0 * 0 + F * 0 + G * 0 + H
―100 = E * 20000 * 0 + F * 200000 + G * 0 + H
200100 = E * 200,000 * 200,000 + F * 200,000 + G * 200,000 + H
199900 = E * 0 * 200,000 + F * 0 + G * 200,000 + H
Similarly, when four simultaneous equations are solved, E = 7.5E-09, F = -0.0005, G = 0.9995, and H = 0.

Using A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H obtained above, all pixels (Xi, Yi) of 59 image data can be converted into the shape (xi, yi) after 60 transformations. can.
xi = A * Xi * Yi + B * Xi + C * Yi + D
yi = E * Yi * Yi + F * Yi + G * Yi + H
In this formula, the position in μm units after conversion is calculated, so the number of pixels to be moved is calculated by dividing the value by the pixel resolution, for example, 10.58 μm in the case of 2400 dpi and 8.8 μm in the case of 2880 dpi. NS.

FIG. 20 is a list in which the number of moving pixels calculated as a result of the above calculation is arranged according to the arrangement of blocks for each block. The unit of the numerical value displayed in the block is a pixel. In the example of FIG. 20, the deformed image data is square and the deformations in the X and Y directions are symmetric as a result. The same table is used in both the X and Y directions, but the X and Y directions If the deformations are not symmetrical, the table may be different in the X and Y directions.

For example, the coordinates X = 90000 and Y = 90000 at the upper left of the 10th block in the X direction and the 10th block in the Y direction of the image data, and x = 89,970 and y = 89,970 when calculated by the above formula. When converted to distance, both XY are 89,970-90000 = -28 μm, and when the resolution is 2400 dpi, one pixel is about 10.58 μm, and -28 / 10.58 = 2.65 pixels. The result is a move to. In the example of FIG. 20, the movement amount of the block is a maximum movement of 8 pixels and a minimum movement of -9 pixels. This is the effect of designating the representative value of the block toward the origin in the upper left, and is a reasonable value considering that the deviation is up to ± 100 μm at the end of FIG. Further, it can be understood that the difference between the numerical values between the adjacent upper, lower, left, and right blocks is 1 or less, and that the adjacent block is a movement of a maximum of 1 pixel. If the same value is adjacent, it means that there is no difference in distance between blocks with the same value because they are moving by the same amount.

Through the above process, it is possible to realize a block correction process of image data according to the shape error of the recording medium. For example, when a resist material, which is an insulator in an inkjet recording device, is applied to a printed wiring board on which a copper pattern is formed as a post-manufacturing process of the printed wiring board, a slight accuracy error may occur for each printed wiring board. Even if there is, by performing block correction processing on the image data according to the alignment mark, the copper pattern can be obtained while avoiding the phenomenon that the 1-pixel line disappears and the phenomenon that the 1-pixel line becomes a 2-pixel line. On the other hand, printing that applies a resist material with high accuracy becomes possible.

Then, after performing the block correction processing of the image data according to the shape error of the recorded medium, the block correction processing according to the machine accuracy error described in the first embodiment is further performed. High-precision printing can be realized.

The flow of processing in the second embodiment as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 21. FIG. 21 is a chart diagram illustrating an overall picture of the processing flow in the first example in the second embodiment. These processes are executed by the control personal computer 12 according to the corresponding program.
For the printed image data designated as the print target in the chart 62, the first block correction process in the chart 63 is performed based on the correction value according to the shape error of the recorded medium based on the alignment mark measured in the chart 65. This is performed, and the first corrected print image data corrected according to the shape of the recording medium is generated. Further, referring to the block correction data in the table acquired according to the machine accuracy error in the chart 67 and the mounting position coordinates of the recorded medium 7 on the table 14 in the chart 66, the mounting position coordinates of the recorded medium 7 are set. Using the corresponding block correction data in the table, the second block correction process according to the machine accuracy error described in the first embodiment is further performed on the first corrected print image data in the chart 64. Generates the printed image data after the second correction. It does not matter which order is first, the generation of the first corrected print image data corrected according to the shape of the recording medium and the generation of the second corrected print image data corrected according to the machine accuracy error. Finally, it is possible to generate print image data in which both the shape error of the recording medium and the machine accuracy error are corrected.

At this time, if the first block correction process and the second block correction process are performed in an overlapping manner, the amount of movement of the block may be doubled.

In the first example of the second embodiment, the block sizes set in the first block correction process and the second block correction process are unified, and the first block correction process and the second block correction process are performed. By shifting the boundaries of the blocks set in the above so as not to overlap each other so as to have a predetermined phase, the movement amount of one block does not exceed one pixel. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a situation in which a predetermined phase is set after unifying the block size in the first block correction process and the second block correction process. In the example of FIG. 22, in the first block correction process and the second block correction process, the size is unified so that the movement amount of the block does not exceed one pixel, and then the start origin position of the first block correction process is obtained. The origin 73 and the origin 74, which is the start origin position of the second block correction process, are moved within the range of one block, whereby the entire block of the first block correction process and the second block correction process are performed. Different phases are set by moving the entire block, and two phases, a first phase 68 and a second phase 69 shown by a solid line, are set as shown in the figure. In the first block correction process, the block correction process is performed in the first phase 68, and in the second block correction process, the block correction process is performed in the second phase 69, so that the block is moved by the first block correction process. And, since the movement of the block by the second block correction processing is executed at different positions, the movement of the block is executed at the same boundary (block) in the first block correction processing and the second block correction processing. It is possible to prevent one block from moving more than one pixel.

Further, when the block 47 having a movement amount of more than one pixel is generated by the movement of the block by the first block correction processing and the second block correction processing, the movement amount is as described with reference to FIG. It is also possible to further divide the block 47 having more than one pixel and move each of the divided blocks by one pixel.

The first example of the second embodiment will be described again with reference to an example in which the recorded medium is the printed wiring board 53, using a flowchart. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of the first example in the second embodiment. Each process described in the flowchart is performed by the control personal computer 12 in which the program corresponding to the flow is stored. In the flow 121, the printed wiring board 53 is placed on the table 14. Next, in the flow 122, the camera 5 is used to image the alignment mark 54 arranged on the printed wiring board 53 with the camera 5, and the center coordinates are calculated by the processing of the control personal computer 12. This corresponds to the process described with reference to FIG. Next, in the flow 123, the arbitrary quadrangle conversion coefficient is calculated from the difference between the alignment mark position coordinate data of the image data by the processing of the control personal computer 12 and the coordinate data of the alignment mark 54 of the printed wiring board 53 acquired in the flow 122. do. This corresponds to the content described with reference to FIG. Next, in the flow 124, the image data is divided into blocks by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and the representative points of each block are converted using an arbitrary quadrangle conversion coefficient. This also corresponds to the content described with reference to FIG. Next, in the flow 125, the movement amount of each block is calculated from the difference before and after the conversion and the print resolution by the processing of the control personal computer 12. This corresponds to the content described with reference to FIG. Next, in the flow 126, each block is moved according to the above movement amount by the processing of the control personal computer 12. Next, in the flow 127, the blocks moved by the processing of the control personal computer 12 are combined to regenerate the image data. Further, the temperature inside the recording device is measured by the flow 128. Next, in the flow 129, the corresponding block correction data in the table is selected from the temperature measured in the flow 128 by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and is referred to from the recording means. Next, in the flow 130, the image data is divided into blocks in different phases by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and the block correction in the table according to the placement position coordinates of the recording medium 7 is performed from the print start position and the block correction table in the table. The amount of movement of each block is calculated using the data. This corresponds to the description of FIG. Then, in the flow 131, each block is moved according to the above-mentioned movement amount by the processing of the control personal computer 12. Finally, in the flow 132, the blocks moved by the processing of the control personal computer 12 are combined to generate the image data again.

Further, in the second embodiment, as a second example, the correction value according to the shape error of the recorded medium based on the alignment mark, the reference of the block correction data in the table, and the placement of the recorded medium are performed in advance. After referring to the coordinates and referring to the entire block movement amount, the final block movement amount is calculated, and based on the final block movement amount, a single block correction process is performed. It is also possible to generate print image data in which both the shape error of the recording medium and the machine accuracy error are corrected.

FIG. 25 is a chart diagram illustrating an overall picture of the second example in the second embodiment. In the example of FIG. 25, the block movement amount (1) is calculated on the chart 70 based on the correction value according to the shape error of the recording medium based on the alignment mark measured in the chart 65. Further, after referring to the block correction data in the table acquired according to the machine accuracy error in the chart 66, and referring to the mounting coordinates of the recorded medium on the table 14 in the chart 67, the mounted medium 7 is mounted. The block movement amount (2) is calculated on the chart 71 using the block correction data in the table according to the position coordinates. Further, in the chart 72, the block movement amount (1) and the block movement amount (2) are totaled to calculate the final block movement amount. Then, the final block movement amount calculated in the chart 72 is applied to the print image data in the chart 63 with respect to the print image data designated as the print target by the command from the control personal computer 12 in the chart 62. Printed image data in which both the shape error of the recording medium and the machine accuracy error are corrected is generated. Similar to the example of FIG. 21, the order of the chart 70 and the chart 71 may be changed, and finally, the printed image data in which both the shape error of the recording medium and the machine accuracy error are corrected can be generated. ..

Also in the second example of the second embodiment, it is effective to keep the movement amount of the block 47 within one pixel in order to avoid deterioration of the print image quality due to the block correction. Various methods are assumed in order to keep the movement amount of the block 47 within one pixel. As described above, when there is a block 47 in which the movement amount of the block 47 exceeds one pixel, the movement amount of each block 47 can be increased by setting the sizes of all the blocks 47 to be further reduced. It can be stored within one pixel. Also in this case, from the viewpoint of minimizing the amount of the block 47 to be moved and improving the processing speed, the maximum size of the block 47 to be moved can be set to one pixel or less. As another method of keeping the movement amount of the block 47 within one pixel, as described in FIG. 23 above, when there is a block 47 having a movement amount of more than one pixel, the movement amount is more than one pixel. It is also possible to further divide only the block 47 and move each of the divided blocks 47 by one pixel.

A second example of the second embodiment will be described again with reference to an example in which the recorded medium is the printed wiring board 53, using a flowchart. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of the second example in the second embodiment. Each process described in the flowchart is performed by the control personal computer 12 in which the program corresponding to the flow is stored. In the flow 121, the printed wiring board 53 is placed on the table 14. Next, in the flow 122, the camera 5 is used to image the alignment mark 54 arranged on the printed wiring board 53 with the camera 5, and the center coordinates are calculated by the processing of the control personal computer 12. This corresponds to the process described with reference to FIG. Next, the arbitrary quadrangle conversion coefficient is calculated from the difference between the alignment mark position coordinate data of the image data and the coordinate data of the alignment mark 54 of the printed wiring board 53 acquired in the flow 122 by the processing of the control personal computer 12 in the flow 123. do. This corresponds to the content described with reference to FIG. Next, in the flow 124, the image data is divided into blocks by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and the representative points of each block are converted using an arbitrary quadrangle conversion coefficient. This also corresponds to the content described with reference to FIG. Next, in the flow 125, the block movement amount (1) is calculated from the difference before and after the conversion and the print resolution by the processing of the control personal computer 12. This corresponds to the content described with reference to FIG. The above is the same as the first example. Next, the temperature inside the recording device is measured by the flow 128. Next, in the flow 129, the corresponding block correction data in the table is selected from the temperature measured in the flow 128 by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and is referred to from the recording means. The numerical value referring to the block correction data in the table according to the placement position coordinates of the recording medium 7 is defined as the block movement amount (2). Next, in the flow 130, the block movement amount (1) and the block movement amount (2) are combined by the processing of the control personal computer 12, and the final movement amount of each block is calculated. Then, in the flow 131, each block is moved according to the movement amount calculated in the flow 130 by the processing of the control personal computer 12. Finally, in the flow 132, the moved blocks are combined and image data is generated by the processing of the control personal computer 12.

By performing the printing operation through the above process, it was possible to realize printing with higher accuracy.

1 Inkjet head 2 Carriage 3 Control board 4 Sub tank 5 Camera 6 Camera lighting 7 Recorded medium 8 X-axis drive unit 9 Negative pressure pump 10 Main tank 11 Pump 12 Control personal computer 13 Interface board 14 Table 15 Y-axis drive unit 17 Three-way valve 18 Positive pressure pump 19 Temperature sensor 25 Glass scale 26 Reference mark 27 Camera frame 31 X coordinate correction value 32 Y coordinate correction value 44 Image data 45 Image shape after deformation 46 Image data after conversion 47 Block 51 Storage means 52 Linear encoder coordinates 53 Printed wiring board 54 Alignment mark 55 Selection means 60 Image shape 61 Image data shape 76 Representative point

Claims (23)

The table on which the recording medium is placed and
A recording head that discharges a recording agent to a recording medium placed on the table, and a recording head.
A moving means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in order to record the image data on the recording medium.
An acquisition means for acquiring information relating to a relative deviation of a plurality of positions of the recording head corresponding to a plurality of positions of the table in the movement by the moving means.
A first correction means for correcting the image data according to the information acquired by the acquisition means, and a first correction means.
Have,
The first correction means divides the image data into a plurality of blocks, each corresponding to each of the plurality of positions in the table, and each of the plurality of blocks is relative to the corresponding recording head. A recording device characterized in that the image data is corrected by moving the plurality of positions in a direction opposite to the direction of deviation of each of the plurality of positions. The moving means is a means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in the first direction, and a second direction in which the table and the recording head are substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the information relating to the deviation includes a means for relatively moving the movement, and the information relating to the deviation includes information relating to the deviation in the first direction and the second direction. Recording device. The recording device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first correction means includes a storage means for storing information related to the deviation. The storage means stores a plurality of information related to the deviation according to the temperature of the recording device, and the first correction means stores the temperature of the recording device from the information related to the plurality of deviations stored in the storage means. The recording device according to claim 3, wherein the information related to the deviation is selected according to the above-mentioned, and the block is moved according to the selected information related to the deviation. It is characterized in that, by using two or more pieces of information related to the deviation according to the temperature stored in the storage means, the information related to the deviation according to the temperature not stored in the storage means is further calculated. The recording device according to claim 4. In the first correction means, when a region where pixels overlap with the adjacent block is generated when the block is moved, the image data in the overlapping region is ORed. , The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Any of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the first correction means, when the movement amount of the block exceeds the predetermined first predetermined amount, the block is further divided. The recording device according to item 1. The recording device according to claim 7, wherein the first specified amount is one pixel. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it further includes a shape information acquisition means for acquiring shape information related to the shape of the recording medium, and a second correction means for correcting the image data according to the shape information. The recording device according to any one of claims 8. The recorded medium has a recorded area in which the image data is recorded, and a plurality of alignment marks arranged in the outer peripheral region of the recorded area in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the recorded area.
The recording device according to claim 9, wherein the shape information acquisition means acquires the shape information based on the position information of the plurality of alignment marks on the recording medium placed on the table. .. 9. The second correction means is characterized in that the image data is corrected by dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks and moving the plurality of blocks according to the shape information. The recording device according to claim 10. The size of the block divided by the first correction means is equal to the size of the block divided by the second correction means, and the first correction means and the second correction means are divided. The recording device according to claim 11, wherein the boundaries of the blocks are different from each other. In the first correction means or the second correction means, when the block is moved and a region where pixels overlap with the adjacent block is generated, the image data of the overlapping region is ORed. The recording device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that processing is performed. Any of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that, in the second correction means, when the movement amount of the block exceeds the predetermined second specified amount, the block is further divided. The recording device according to item 1. The recording device according to claim 14, wherein the specified amount is one pixel. The table on which the recording medium is placed and
A recording head that discharges a recording agent to a recording medium placed on the table, and a recording head.
A moving means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in order to record the image data on the recording medium.
A storage means for storing information relating to a relative deviation of a plurality of positions of the recording head corresponding to a plurality of positions of the table in the movement by the moving means.
A shape information acquisition means for acquiring shape information related to the shape of the recording medium, and
A correction means for correcting the image data by dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks each corresponding to each of the plurality of positions in the table and moving each of the plurality of blocks.
Have,
The correction means causes each of the plurality of blocks to move a movement amount according to the information related to the deviation stored in the storage means and the shape information acquired by the shape acquisition means. A recording device characterized by that. The moving means is a means for relatively moving the table and the recording head in the first direction, and a second direction in which the table and the recording head are substantially orthogonal to the first direction. 16. The recording apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising means for relative movement, wherein the information includes information relating to a deviation between the first direction and the second direction. .. The storage means stores a plurality of information related to the deviation according to the temperature of the recording device, and the correction means responds to the temperature of the recording device from the information related to the plurality of deviations stored in the storage means. The recording device according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the information relating to the deviation is selected and the block is moved according to the selected information relating to the deviation. It is characterized in that, by using two or more pieces of information related to the deviation according to the temperature stored in the storage means, the information related to the deviation according to the temperature not stored in the storage means is further calculated. The recording device according to claim 18. The recorded medium has a plurality of alignment marks arranged in the outer peripheral region of the recorded region in a predetermined positional relationship with the recorded region on which the image data is recorded.
The 16th aspect of the present invention, wherein the shape information acquisition means acquires the shape information based on the position information of the plurality of alignment marks on the recording medium placed on the table. The recording apparatus according to any one of 19. The claim is characterized in that, in the correction means, when a region where pixels overlap with the adjacent block is generated when the block is moved, the image data of the overlapping region is ORed. The recording device according to any one of claims 16 to 20. The method according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein in the correction means, when the movement amount of the block exceeds a predetermined amount specified in advance, the block is further divided. Recording device. 22. The recording device according to claim 22, wherein the specified amount is one pixel.

Images