JP7059638B2 - Recording device, recording method, and recording program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for ejecting ink droplets onto a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink.

Patent Document 1 discloses an inkjet printing method in which a color material ink and a printability improving ink are ejected from a recording head onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium. In this method, the printability-improving ink is not applied to the recording dots corresponding to the abnormal ink ejection ports where the deterioration of the ejection state is determined among the plurality of ink ejection ports of the color material ink recording head and the vicinity of the recording dots. An image is formed by blurring the ink dots in the vicinity of the streaks.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-067296

However, when the printability improving ink applied to the recording medium cannot be finely patterned, the above-mentioned method cannot be used in order to make the streaks caused by the abnormal ink ejection port difficult to see.
It should be noted that the above-mentioned problems may exist in various recording devices.

One of an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for making streaks caused by defective nozzles difficult to see even when the reaction layer that reacts with ink cannot be finely patterned.

The recording apparatus of the present invention includes a first ejection unit having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets onto a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink.
A second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at the timing of landing on the same position of the printed matter before the first ink droplet.
A drive unit that moves the printed matter relative to the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit in the relative movement direction.
A processing unit that ejects the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. , Including
The reaction layer contains a cohesive cationic substance and contains.
The first ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the first ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The second ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the second ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The number of moles of the cationic indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the second ink droplet of the unit weight is the molar number of the indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the first ink droplet of the unit weight. It has an aspect that is greater than the number .
Further, the recording apparatus of the present invention includes a first ejection unit having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets onto a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink.
A second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at the timing of landing on the same position of the printed matter before the first ink droplet.
A drive unit that moves the printed matter relative to the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit in the relative movement direction.
A processing unit that ejects the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. , Including
The second ink droplet has an embodiment in which the coloring material contained in the first ink droplet is contained in a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet.
Further, the recording apparatus of the present invention includes a first ejection unit having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets onto a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink.
A second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at the timing of landing on the same position of the printed matter before the first ink droplet.
A drive unit that moves the printed matter relative to the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit in the relative movement direction.
A processing unit that ejects the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. , Including
The second nozzle ejects the second ink droplet to the second region other than the line-shaped region in addition to the line-shaped region with respect to the printed matter.
The processing unit has an aspect of controlling the dots formed by the second ink droplets ejected from the second nozzle so that the second region is smaller than the line-shaped region.

Further, the recording method of the present invention relates to a first ejection unit having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to an object to be printed having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and the same position of the object to be printed. A step of moving the printed matter relative to a second ejection portion having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at a timing of landing before the first ink droplet.
A step of ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle into a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. Including
The reaction layer contains a cohesive cationic substance and contains.
The first ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the first ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The second ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the second ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The number of moles of the cationic indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the second ink droplet of the unit weight is the molar number of the indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the first ink droplet of the unit weight. It has an aspect that is greater than the number .
Further, the recording method of the present invention relates to a first ejection unit having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to an object to be printed having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and the same position of the object to be printed. A step of moving the printed matter relative to a second ejection portion having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at a timing of landing before the first ink droplet.
A step of ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle into a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. Including
The second ink droplet has an embodiment in which the coloring material contained in the first ink droplet is contained in a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet.
Further, the recording method of the present invention relates to a first ejection unit having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to an object to be printed having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and the same position of the object to be printed. A step of moving the printed matter relative to a second ejection portion having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at a timing of landing before the first ink droplet.
A ejection control step of ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle into a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. And, including
The second nozzle ejects the second ink droplet to the second region other than the line-shaped region in addition to the line-shaped region with respect to the printed matter.
The ejection control step has an aspect of controlling the dots formed by the second ink droplets ejected from the second nozzle so that the second region is smaller than the line-shaped region.

Further, the recording program of the present invention relates to a first ejection unit having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to an object to be printed having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and to the same position of the object to be printed. A movement control function for relatively moving the printed matter in a relative movement direction with respect to a second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting a second ink droplet at a timing of landing prior to the first ink droplet.
A discharge control function for ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. To the computer ,
The second nozzle ejects the second ink droplet to the second region other than the line-shaped region in addition to the line-shaped region with respect to the printed matter.
The ejection control function has an aspect of controlling the dots formed by the second ink droplets ejected from the second nozzle so that the second region is smaller than the line-shaped region .

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for making streaks caused by defective nozzles difficult to see even when the reaction layer that reacts with ink cannot be finely patterned.

The figure which shows the example of the recording apparatus schematically. The figure which shows the structural example of the main part of a recording apparatus schematically. The figure which shows the example of the discharge part schematically. The figure which shows the example of the landing order of ink droplets schematically. FIG. 5A is a diagram schematically showing an example of a main part of a recording device, and FIG. 5B is a diagram schematically showing an example of an electromotive force curve based on the residual vibration of a diaphragm. FIG. 6A is a diagram schematically showing an example of an electric circuit of a defective nozzle detection unit, and FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically showing an example of an output signal from an amplification unit. The figure which shows the example of the component and the physical property of an ink. The figure which shows the example of the original data schematically. The figure which shows the example of the correction data schematically. The figure which shows typically the example which the dot of the 2nd ink drop and the dot of the 1st ink drop is formed. The figure which schematically illustrates the appearance of the first ink drop bleeding toward a line-shaped region. The figure which shows another example of the original data schematically. The figure which shows another example of the correction data schematically. The figure which shows another example of a recording apparatus schematically. The figure which shows typically the example of the correspondence relation between the color of a 1st ink drop and the color of a 2nd ink drop. The figure which shows another example of the component and the physical property of an ink. The figure which shows typically the example of the recording method of a serial printer. The figure which shows typically how the dot of the ink drop is formed in the comparative example. The figure which shows typically the appearance that the streak along the relative movement direction is conspicuous in the comparative example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Of course, the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and not all of the features shown in the embodiments are essential for the means for solving the invention.

(1) Outline of the technique included in the present invention:
First, an outline of the technique included in the present invention will be described with reference to the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 19. It should be noted that the figures of the present application are diagrams schematically showing examples, and the enlargement ratios in each direction shown in these figures may differ, and the figures may not match. Of course, each element of the present technology is not limited to the specific example indicated by the reference numeral.
Further, in the present application, the numerical range "Min to Max" means a minimum value of Min or more and a maximum value of Max or less. The composition ratio represented by the chemical formula indicates the stoichiometric ratio, and the substances represented by the chemical formula include those deviating from the stoichiometric ratio.

[Aspect 1]
As illustrated in FIGS. The first ejection unit E1 ejects first ink droplets i1 (ink droplets of Cy, Ma, Ye, and Bk in the example of FIG. 4) onto a printed matter (print substrate) M1 having a reaction layer RE1 that reacts with ink 66. It has a plurality of first nozzles N1. The second ejection unit E2 ejects the second ink droplet i2 (Gr ink droplet in the example of FIG. 4) at the timing of landing on the same position P0 of the printed matter M1 before the first ink droplet i1. It has a plurality of second nozzles N2 for discharging. The drive unit U1 moves the printed matter M1 relative to the first discharge unit E1 and the second discharge unit E2 in the relative movement direction (for example, the feed direction D2). The processing unit U2 is the second in the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN included in the plurality of first nozzles N1 in the printed matter M1 that moves relative to the relative moving direction (D2). The second ink droplet i2 is ejected from the nozzle N2.

In the above aspect 1, since the second ink droplet i2 (for example, the ink droplet of Gr) that first lands on the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN reacts with the reaction layer RE1, the line-shaped region The reactivity of A1 is suppressed, and as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first ink droplet i1 (Bk ink droplet in the examples of FIGS. 10 and 11) that lands on the portion adjacent to the linear region A1 is described above. It bleeds toward the line-shaped region A1. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording device that makes it difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle even when the reaction layer that reacts with the ink cannot be finely patterned.

Here, the ink is not limited to an ink containing a coloring material such as a pigment or a dye, and also includes a liquid containing no coloring material. For example, a liquid containing a resin called clear ink, overcoat ink, overprint ink, gloss optimizer ink, etc., which is used to improve the scratch resistance and glossiness of printed matter, corresponds to this.
The reaction layer includes a layer containing a cationic substance that aggregates the anionic substance of the ink, a layer containing an acidic substance that weakens the repulsion between the anionic substances of the ink, and the like. The reaction layer may be arranged on the entire surface of the printed matter or may be arranged on a part of the printed matter.
A nozzle is a small hole into which ink droplets are ejected. When the ink droplets land on the printed matter, ink dots are formed on the printed matter.
The colors of the first ink droplets are Cy (cyan), Ma (magenta), Ye (yellow), Bk (black), Lc (light cyan) lighter than Cy, Lm (light magenta) lighter than Ma, and Ye. Dark Dy (dark yellow), Gr (gray) lighter than Bk, Wh (white), Red (red), Green (green), Blue (blue), CL (colorless), etc. can be applied.
As the color of the second ink droplet, a color applicable to the first ink droplet can be applied. Even when the color of the second ink droplet is different from the color of the first ink droplet, the first ink droplet bleeds toward the line-shaped region, so that the effect of making the streaks caused by the defective nozzle difficult to see can be obtained.
To move the printed matter relative to the ejection section (first ejection section and second ejection section), move the printed matter to the non-moving ejection section, and move the ejection section to the non-moving printed matter. It includes both moving and moving both the ejection part and the printed matter.
In addition, the above-mentioned addition is also applied in the following aspects.

[Aspect 2]
As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and the like, the plurality of second nozzles N2 may be arranged on the upstream side of the plurality of first nozzles N1 in the relative moving direction (D2) of the printed matter M1. .. In this embodiment, in a state where the printed matter M1 is relatively moving in the relative moving direction (D2) with respect to the ejection portion, the second ink is preceded by the first ink droplet i1 with respect to the same position P0 of the printed matter M1. Drop i2 lands. Therefore, this aspect can provide a suitable technique for making the streaks caused by the defective nozzle difficult to see.

[Aspect 3]
As illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the recording apparatus 1 may further include a reaction layer forming portion U3 for adhering a reaction solution RE0 to be replaced with the reaction layer RE1 to the printed matter M0 without the reaction layer RE1. .. In this embodiment, the printed matter M1 without the reaction layer RE1 can be used, so that the convenience can be improved.

[Aspect 4]
Further, the recording device 1 may further include a defective nozzle detection unit U4 for detecting a defective nozzle LN included in the plurality of first nozzles N1. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to separately detect the defective nozzle LN included in the plurality of first nozzles N1, so that the convenience can be improved.

[Aspect 5]
By the way, the reaction layer RE1 may contain a cationic substance having cohesiveness (for example, modified polyethyleneimine). As illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like, the first ink droplet i1 may contain an anionic substance having cohesiveness (for example, a resin solution D and an anionic surfactant A). The second ink droplet i2 may contain an anionic substance having cohesiveness (for example, any of resin solutions A, B, C, D and anionic surfactant A). The number of moles of a cationic indicator substance (for example, magnesium ion) that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the second ink droplet i2 of the unit weight is the same as that of the anionic substance contained in the first ink droplet i1 of the unit weight. It may be larger than the number of moles of the indicator substance to react. In this embodiment, since the second ink droplet i2 contains a large amount of anionic substances that react with the reaction layer RE1 of the printed matter M1, the cationicity of the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN is more effectively suppressed. .. Therefore, this aspect can provide a technique for further obscuring the streaks caused by defective nozzles.

[Aspect 6]
As illustrated in FIG. 7 and the like, the surface tension of the first ink droplet i1 may be lower than the surface tension of the second ink droplet i2. In this aspect, since the second ink droplet i2 landing on the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN is easily covered by the first ink droplet i1, a technique for making the streaks caused by the defective nozzle more difficult to see is provided. Can be provided.

[Aspect 7]
By the way, the second ink droplet i2 may be an ink droplet 67 of an achromatic ink (CL ink) that does not contain a coloring material, or an ink droplet 67 of an achromatic ink such as gray ink (Gr ink). This aspect can provide a suitable technique for making the streaks caused by the defective nozzles difficult to see because the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN is not given a chromatic color.

[Aspect 8]
Further, the second ink droplet i2 may contain the coloring material contained in the first ink droplet i1 at a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet i1. As an example of this embodiment, the second ink droplet i2 of Lc with respect to the first ink droplet i1 of Cy, the second ink droplet i2 of Lm with respect to the first ink droplet i1 of Ma, and the first ink droplet i1 of Gr with respect to the first ink droplet i1 of Bk. Two ink droplets i2, etc. may be mentioned. In this embodiment, since a part of the original color component is imparted to the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN, it is possible to provide a suitable technique for making the streaks caused by the defective nozzle difficult to see.

[Aspect 9]
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 12 and the like, the second nozzle N2 has the second area A2 other than the line-shaped area A1 in addition to the line-shaped area A1 with respect to the printed matter M1. Ink droplets i2 may be ejected. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the processing unit U2 makes dots formed by the second ink droplet i2 ejected from the second nozzle N2 toward the second region A2 rather than the line-shaped region A1. May be controlled so that In this embodiment, the graininess of the recorded image is further suppressed, so that the image quality of the recorded image can be improved.

[Aspect 10]
By the way, the recording method according to one aspect of the present technology includes the following steps (a) and (b).
(A) It has a plurality of first nozzles N1 for ejecting first ink droplets i1 (ink droplets of Cy, Ma, Ye, Bk in the example of FIG. 4) to a printed matter M1 having a reaction layer RE1 that reacts with ink 66. The second ink droplet i2 (Gr ink droplet in the example of FIG. 4) is ejected to the same position P0 of the first ejection portion E1 and the printed matter M1 at the timing of landing before the first ink droplet i1. A movement control step of moving the printed matter M1 relative to a second ejection unit E2 having a plurality of second ejection nozzles N2 in a relative movement direction (for example, a feed direction D2).
(B) From the second nozzle N2 to the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN included in the plurality of first nozzles N1 in the printed matter M1 that moves relative to the relative moving direction (D2). A ejection control step for ejecting the second ink droplet i2.

The tenth aspect can provide a recording method that makes it difficult to see streaks caused by defective nozzles even when the reaction layer that reacts with ink cannot be finely patterned.
This recording method may further include the following steps (c) and (d).
(C) An adhesion step of adhering a reaction liquid RE0 that changes to the reaction layer RE1 to a printed matter M0 that does not have the reaction layer RE1.
(D) A detection step for detecting a defective nozzle LN included in the plurality of first nozzles N1.

[Aspect 11]
Further, the recording program according to one aspect of the present technology realizes a movement control function corresponding to the process (a) and a discharge control function corresponding to the process (b) on a computer (for example, a recording device 1). This aspect can provide a recording program that obscures streaks caused by defective nozzles even when the reaction layer that reacts with ink cannot be finely patterned. In this recording program, the adhesion control function corresponding to the step (c) and the detection control function corresponding to the step (d) may be realized in the computer.

Further, the present technology includes a composite device including the recording device, a control method of the recording device, a control method of the composite device, a control program of the recording device, a control program of the composite device, a recording program and the control program. It can be applied to recorded computer-readable media, etc. The above-mentioned device may be composed of a plurality of dispersed parts.

(2) Specific example of the configuration of the recording device:
FIG. 1 shows, as an example of the recording device 1, a reaction layer RE1 is formed on the surface of a printed matter M0 continuous in the feed direction D2 (an example in a relative movement direction), and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head H0 to the reaction layer RE1. A line printer is schematically shown. The line printer is a printing device that forms dots in a line-shaped region along the feed direction D2 in one scan, and is a kind of inkjet printer. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a control system centered on the control unit 46 in the recording device 1. In FIG. 2, the head unit 20 included in the printing unit 13 is extracted and shown, and one of the heads H0 is further extracted and shown. The recording device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a feeding unit 11, a reaction liquid coating unit 12, a printing unit 13, a hot air furnace 14, and a winding unit 15 in order from the upstream side of the feeding direction D2, and is a control unit. It operates under the control of 46.
In the present specification, the same direction, position, etc. are not limited to exact matching, but include deviation from exact matching due to an error. “Orthogonal” is not limited to the exact 90 ° and includes deviations from the exact 90 ° due to error. Moreover, the explanation of the positional relationship of each part is merely an example. Therefore, the left-right direction can be changed to the up-down direction or the front-back direction, the up-down direction can be changed to the left-right direction or the front-back direction, the front-back direction can be changed to the left-right direction or the up-down direction, and the rotation direction can be changed to the opposite direction. Etc. are also included in this technology.

The printed matter M0 before forming the reaction layer RE1 is a long roll paper (continuous paper) in the example shown in FIG. 1, but may be cut paper. As the printed matter M0, various media that receive ink droplets, such as paper, film, label paper, cloth, intermediate transfer medium, printed circuit board, and three-dimensional object, can be used. Therefore, the recording device 1 may be a label printing machine, a printing machine, a flexible packaging printing machine, a printed circuit board manufacturing device, a three-dimensional object modeling device, or the like. For example, paper-based printed matter includes high-quality paper, coated paper, cast paper, and the like. The film-based printed matter includes a polyolefin resin film such as a polypropylene (PP) resin film or a polyethylene (PE) resin film, a polyester resin film such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin film, and the like.

The feeding unit 11 feeds out the roll-shaped printed matter M0 according to the instruction from the control unit 46, and supplies the printed matter M0 to the reaction liquid coating unit 12 in a continuous state in the feeding direction D2 (right direction in FIG. 1).

The reaction liquid coating unit 12 (example of the reaction layer forming unit U3) changes to the reaction layer RE1 with respect to the surface (upper side in FIG. 1) of the printed matter M0 without the reaction layer RE1 according to the instruction from the control unit 46. Attach RE0. The reaction liquid application unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 is a roll coater type device in which the reaction liquid RE0 is applied to the rotating roll 12a and applied to the entire surface of the printed matter M0. As a result, even if the viscosity of the reaction solution RE0 is high, the reaction solution dries quickly, and a uniform and defect-free film for the reaction layer can be formed at low cost. On the other hand, the roll coater type device cannot perform patterning of the reaction layer RE1 such that the reaction layer RE1 is not formed only in the line-shaped region caused by the defective nozzle.
If the printed matter M1 on which the reaction layer RE1 is formed can be prepared in advance, the recording device 1 may not have the reaction liquid coating unit 12. In this case, the recording device itself cannot pattern the reaction layer RE1.

As the reaction solution RE0, a cationic substance having cohesiveness, an acidic substance that weakens the repulsion between the anionic substances of the ink, and the like can be used. In this specific example, the case where the reaction solution RE0 contains a cationic substance having cohesiveness will be described. As the reaction solution RE0 in this case, a polyethyleneimine-based aqueous solution containing a modified polyethyleneimine aqueous solution, a solution containing a salt of a divalent or higher metal ion such as barium sulfate or calcium nitrate, or the like can be used.

The print unit 13 is placed on a feed mechanism 41 (an example of a drive unit U1) including a platen 13a that supports the printed matter M1 under the printed matter M1 and controls the non-printed matter M1 to an appropriate temperature, and a platen 13a. It has an arranged head unit 20. The feed mechanism 41 has, for example, a plurality of roller pairs sandwiching the printed matter M1 and conveys the printed matter M1 in the feed direction D2 according to an instruction from the control unit 46. As the roller pair, for example, a combination of a drive roller that applies a force to the printed matter M1 in the feed direction D2 and a driven roller that rotates by this force can be adopted. The head unit 20 of this specific example has a plurality of recording heads H0 and a defective nozzle detection unit 70 (example of a defective nozzle detection unit U4) in which ink droplet ejection is defective. Each recording head H0 has a plurality of nozzles 64 for ejecting ink droplets 67 on the surface of the printed matter M1. The plurality of recording heads H0 include a head (first ejection unit E1) having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink (first ink droplet) for forming a color image on the printed matter M1, and instead of a defective nozzle. A head (second ejection unit E2) having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the retouching ink (second ink droplet) is included. The ink for forming a color image of this specific example includes Cy ink, Ma ink, Ye ink, and Bk ink. The retouching ink of this specific example is Gr ink which is an achromatic color. In the printing unit 13 shown in FIG. 1, Gr heads, Cy heads, Ma heads, Ye heads, and Bk heads are arranged in order from the upstream side in the feed direction D2. Of these heads H0, the heads of Cy, Ma, Ye, and Bk are examples of the first ejection unit E1, and the heads of Gr are examples of the second ejection unit E2.

The hot air furnace 14 has a heater 14a and a fan 14b, and sends warm air to the surface of the printed matter M2 on which the ink droplets land on the printed matter M1. The conditions for warm air are not particularly limited, but for example, the conditions for heating at a temperature of 90 ° C. and a wind speed of 5 m / sec for 20 seconds can be set. Under such warm air, the ink droplets that have landed on the surface of the printed matter M1 are cured and dried.
Of course, the curing and drying of the ink droplets may be performed by heating by the heater 14a without the fan 14b, by blowing air from the fan 14b without the heater 14a, or from the printing unit 13 to the winding unit 15. This may be done by lengthening the transport path. Further, radiant heating by infrared rays (IR), dielectric heating by microwaves, or the like may be used, or these may be used in combination.

The take-up unit 15 winds up the printed matter M2 in a continuous state in the feed direction D2 according to the instruction from the control unit 46.

As shown in FIG. 2, as a control system, the recording device 1 includes a communication interface (I / F) 43, a semiconductor memory (RAM 44 (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory) 45), a control unit 46, and an operation panel. 73, etc. are provided.

In the communication I / F43, the host device HT1 is connected, information such as print data DA0 is received from the host device HT1, and information such as status data is transmitted to the host device HT1. As the communication I / F43 standard, USB (Universal Serial Bus), short-range wireless communication standard, and the like can be used. The communication of the communication I / F43 may be wired, wireless, or network communication such as LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The host device HT1 includes a personal computer (including a tablet terminal), a mobile phone such as a smartphone, a digital still camera, a digital video camera, and the like. Further, even if the host device HT1 and the recording device 1 are integrated, the present technique can be implemented.

The RAM 44 is used as an input buffer, an output buffer, a work memory, and the like. The received print data DA0 is temporarily stored in the input buffer. Various control routines, font data, graphic functions, various procedures, etc. executed by the control unit 46 are written in the ROM 45.

The control unit 46 (example of the processing unit U2) includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 46a, a resolution conversion unit 46b, a color conversion unit 46c, a halftone processing unit 46d, a modification unit 46e, a drive signal transmission unit 46f, and the like. The control unit 46 may be configured by a SoC (System on a Chip), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or the like, or a general-purpose personal computer or a single board computer may be used. It is also possible to replace some of its functions with cloud processing on the Internet.

The CPU 46a mainly performs information processing and control in the recording device 1 by using the RAM 44 as a work area and executing a recording program written in the ROM 45. The recording program causes the recording device 1, which is a computer, to function as a driving unit U1, a processing unit U2, a reaction layer forming unit U3, and a defective nozzle detecting unit U4. By executing the recording program, the CPU 46a has a movement control function corresponding to the drive unit U1, a discharge control function corresponding to the processing unit U2, an adhesion control function corresponding to the reaction layer forming unit U3, and a defective nozzle detection unit. Performs processing corresponding to the detection control function corresponding to U4. Further, the recording device 1 that executes the recording program includes a movement control process corresponding to the drive unit U1, a discharge control process corresponding to the processing unit U2, an adhesion process corresponding to the reaction layer forming unit U3, and a defective nozzle detection unit. A detection step corresponding to U4 is carried out. The ROM 45 in which the recording program is written is a computer-readable recording medium on which the recording program is recorded. Of course, the recording medium may be a computer-readable medium (for example, magnetic recording medium) of an external server computer, a portable semiconductor memory (for example, flash memory), a magnetic recording medium (for example, a hard disk), a disk-shaped recording medium, or the like. good. When the recording program is read into the RAM 44 from these recording media, the recording program can be executed.

The resolution conversion unit 46b converts the resolution of the input image of the print data DA0 from the host device HT1 or the like into the set resolution. The input image is represented by, for example, RGB data in which each pixel has an integer value of 256 gradations of RGB (meaning red, green, and blue).

The color conversion unit 46c converts, for example, RGB data of the above-mentioned set resolution into CMYK data having 256 gradation integer values of CMYK (meaning cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) for each pixel.

The halftone processing unit 46d performs predetermined halftone processing such as a dither method, an error diffusion method, or a density pattern method on the gradation value of each pixel constituting the above-mentioned CMYK data, and the gradation of the gradation value. The number is reduced to generate original data DA1 (see FIG. 8) representing a dot pattern containing dots to be formed by the defective nozzle LN (see FIG. 8). The original data DA1 is data indicating the formation state of the dot DT, may be binary data indicating the presence or absence of dot formation, or may be multi-valued data having three or more gradations that can correspond to dots of different sizes such as large, medium, and small dots. It may be data. The original data DA1 shown in FIG. 8 is data indicating whether or not small dots are formed. This data may be binary data or multi-valued data having three or more values such as four-valued data.

The modification unit 46e generates modification data DA2 (see FIG. 9) representing a dot pattern including modification dot DT2 (see FIG. 9) of Gr ink based on the above-mentioned original data DA1. The modification data DA2 is also data representing a dot formation state. The modification data DA2 shown in FIG. 9 is multi-valued data (for example, quaternary data) having three or more gradations including no dot, small dot formation, and large dot formation.

The drive signal transmission unit 46f generates a drive signal SG based on the above-mentioned modification data DA2, and outputs the drive signal SG to the drive circuit 52 of the head H0.

The above-mentioned parts 46b to 46f may be configured by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and the data to be processed may be directly read from the RAM 44 or the processed data may be directly written to the RAM 44.

The drive element 51 of the head H0 is provided for the number of nozzles 64 used for printing. The drive circuit 52 drives each drive element 51 according to the drive signal SG described above. It is assumed that the drive element 51 of this specific example is a piezo element (piezoelectric element) that applies pressure to the ink 66 in the pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle 64. Of course, a drive element or the like that generates bubbles in the pressure chamber by heat and ejects ink droplets from the nozzle can also be used. Ink 66 is supplied from the ink cartridge 65 to the pressure chamber 611 (see FIG. 5A) of the head H0. The combination of the ink cartridge 65 and the head H0 is provided in each of, for example, Gr, Cy, Ma, Ye, and Bk. The ink 66 in the pressure chamber 611 is ejected as ink droplets 67 from the nozzle 64 toward the printed matter M1 by the drive element 51 deforming the wall of the pressure chamber 611 according to the voltage of the supplied drive signal SG. .. As a result, dot DTs of ink droplets 67 are formed on the printed matter M1. Here, if the voltage fluctuation width of the drive signal SG is increased, the ink droplet 67 ejected from the nozzle 64 becomes large. Therefore, when changing the dot size, the voltage fluctuation width of the drive signal SG may be changed. For example, when the drive signal transmission unit 46f generates a drive signal SG for small dots, the drive element 51 driven by the drive circuit 52 ejects ink droplets for small dots from the nozzle 64 to generate small dots on the printed matter M1. To form. When the drive signal transmission unit 46f generates a drive signal SG for large dots, the drive element 51 driven by the drive circuit 52 ejects ink droplets for large dots from the nozzle 64 to form large dots on the printed matter M1. .. By transporting the printed matter M1 in the feed direction D2, that is, by moving the printed matter M1 relative to the feed direction D2 with respect to the head H0, the printed matter corresponding to the retouching data DA2 is covered by the plurality of dot DTs. It is formed on the surface of the printed matter M1.

The operation panel 73 has an output unit 74, an input unit 75, and the like. The output unit 74 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel (display unit) that displays information according to various instructions and information indicating the state of the recording device 1. The output unit 74 may output these information by voice. The input unit 75 is composed of operation keys (operation input units) such as cursor keys and decision keys, and receives various instructions from the user. The input unit 75 may be a touch panel or the like that accepts operations on the display screen.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the head H0 of Gr, Cy, Ma, Ye, and Bk. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the landing order of ink droplets from each head H0. In FIG. 4, the ink droplets 67Gr, 67Cy, 67Ma, 67Ye, and 67Bk indicate the ink droplets 67 of Gr, Cy, Ma, Ye, and Bk, respectively. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the nozzles 64Gr, 64Cy, 64Ma, 64Ye, and 64Bk indicate the nozzles 64 that eject ink droplets 67Gr, 67Cy, 67Ma, 67Ye, and 67Bk, respectively. The heads H0Gr, H0Cy, H0Ma, H0Ye, and H0Bk indicate a recording head having a plurality of nozzles 64Gr, 64Cy, 64Ma, 64Ye, and 64Bk, respectively. In FIG. 3, each head H0 has head tips H01, H02, H03, H04 having a nozzle row 68. Reference numeral D1 indicates the arrangement direction of the nozzles 64 of the head tips H01 to H04. Reference numeral D3 indicates the width direction of the printed matter M1. Although the arrangement direction D1 and the width direction D3 coincide with each other in FIG. 3, the present technique includes directions different from each other. Further, in FIG. 3, the directions D1 and D3 and the feed direction D2 are orthogonal to each other, but they are included in the present technique even if they are not orthogonal to each other if they are in different directions. Further, in FIG. 3, the nozzles 68 of the head tips H01, H02, H03, and H04 do not overlap each other in the feed direction D2, but in order to reduce unevenness caused by variations in the characteristics of the head tips, some of the nozzles of the head tips H01, H02, H03, and H04 do not overlap each other. May be configured to overlap.

Here, the ink droplets 67Cy, 67Ma, 67Ye, and 67Bk are examples of the first ink droplet i1, and the ink droplet 67Gr is an example of the second ink droplet i2. Nozzles 64Cy, 64Ma, 64Ye, 64Bk are examples of the first nozzle N1, and nozzle 64Gr is an example of the second nozzle N2. The heads H0Cy, H0Ma, H0Ye, and H0Bk are examples of the first ejection unit E1, and the head H0Gr is an example of the second ejection unit E2.

In each head H0 shown in FIG. 3, four head chips H01 to H04 are arranged substantially along the arrangement direction D1. Of course, the number of head chips in each head H0 is not limited to four, and may be five or more, three, two, or one. Each head H0 can eject ink droplets 67 over the entire width of the printed matter M1 by means of a plurality of nozzles 64 on the head chip.

In the nozzle row 68, a defective nozzle LN may occur in which ink droplets are not ejected or the ejected ink droplets do not draw a correct trajectory due to clogging or the like. If there is a defective nozzle LN, the dot DT is not formed along the feed direction D2, or the diameter and landing position of the dot DT fluctuate from the desired size and position, so that the line-shaped region A1 becomes the printed matter M1. Occurs in. If the original data DA1 (see FIG. 8) is not adjusted, streaks of the ground color (for example, white) of the printed matter M1 will be generated along the feed direction D2 in the printed image.

In this specific example, when the defective nozzle detection unit 70 detects whether each of the plurality of nozzles 64Cy, 64Ma, 64Ye, and 64Bk is in the normal state or the defective state, and the defective nozzle LN which is the defective state is detected. Modification data (see FIG. 9) is generated from the original data DA1 (see FIG. 8).

5A and 5B are diagrams schematically illustrating a method in which the defective nozzle detection unit 70 detects the state of the nozzle 64, FIG. 5A schematically illustrates a main part of the recording device 1, and FIG. 5B is a diaphragm. The electromotive force curve VR based on the residual vibration of 510 is schematically illustrated. FIG. 6A schematically illustrates the electric circuit of the detection unit 70, and FIG. 6B schematically illustrates the output signal from the comparator 701b.

The flow path substrate 610 of the head H0 shown in FIG. 5A has a pressure chamber 611, an ink supply path 612 through which the ink 66 flows from the ink cartridge 65 to the pressure chamber 611, and a nozzle series in which the ink 66 flows from the pressure chamber 611 to the nozzle 64. Passage 613, etc. are formed. For the flow path substrate 610, for example, a silicon substrate or the like can be used. The surface of the flow path substrate 610 is a diaphragm portion 514 that forms a part of the wall surface of the pressure chamber 611. The diaphragm portion 514 can be made of, for example, silicon oxide or the like. The diaphragm 510 can be composed of, for example, a diaphragm portion 514, a drive element 51 formed on the diaphragm portion 514, and the like. The drive element 51 has, for example, a lower electrode 511 formed on the vibrating plate portion 514, a piezoelectric layer 512 formed substantially on the lower electrode 511, and an upper electrode 513 formed substantially on the piezoelectric layer 512. It can be a piezoelectric element or the like. For the electrodes 511, 513, for example, platinum, gold, or the like can be used. As the piezoelectric layer 512, a ferroelectric perovskite-type oxide such as PZT (lead zirconate titanate, Pb (Zr _x , Ti _1-x ) O ₃ in chemical ratio) can be used.

The defective nozzle detection unit 70 shown in FIG. 5A detects an electromotive force state from the piezoelectric element (driving element 51) based on the residual vibration of the diaphragm 510. One end of the detection unit 70 is electrically connected to the lower electrode 511, and the other end of the detection unit 70 is electrically connected to the upper electrode 513.
FIG. 5B illustrates an electromotive force curve (electromotive force state) VR of the drive element 51 based on the residual vibration of the diaphragm 510 generated after the supply of the drive signal SG for ejecting the ink droplet 67 from the nozzle 64. Here, the horizontal axis is time t, and the vertical axis is electromotive force Vf. The electromotive force curve VR shows an example in which ink droplets 67 are ejected from a normal nozzle 64. If the ink droplet 67 is not ejected from the nozzle or the ejected ink droplet 67 does not draw a correct trajectory due to clogging or the like, the electromotive force curve deviates from VR. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether the nozzle 64 is normal or defective by using the detection circuit as shown in FIG. 6A.

The detection unit 70 shown in FIG. 6A includes an amplification unit 701 and a pulse width detection unit 702. The amplification unit 701 includes, for example, an operational amplifier 701a, a comparator 701b, capacitors C1 and C2, and resistors R1 to R5. When the drive signal SG output from the drive circuit 52 is applied to the drive element 51, residual vibration occurs, and an electromotive force based on the residual vibration is input to the amplification unit 701. The low frequency component included in this electromotive force is removed by a high frequency passing filter composed of a capacitor C1 and a resistor R1, and the electromotive force after removing the low frequency component is amplified by the operational amplifier 701a at a predetermined amplification factor. The output of the operational amplifier 701a passes through a high frequency pass filter composed of the capacitor C2 and the resistor R4, is compared with the reference voltage Vref by the comparator 701b, and is high level H or low level depending on whether it is higher than the reference voltage Vref. It is converted into a pulsed voltage of L or so.

FIG. 6B shows an example of a pulsed voltage output from the comparator 701b and input to the pulse width detection unit 702. The pulse width detection unit 702 resets the count value at the rising edge of the input pulsed voltage, increments the count value at predetermined periods, and outputs the count value to the control unit 46 as a detection result at the rising edge of the next pulsed voltage. Output. The count value corresponds to the period of the electromotive force based on the residual vibration, and the count value output sequentially indicates the frequency characteristic of the electromotive force based on the residual vibration. The frequency characteristic of the electromotive force (for example, period) when the nozzle is a defective nozzle LN is different from the frequency characteristic of the electromotive force when the nozzle is normal. Therefore, the control unit 46 can determine that the nozzle to be detected is normal if the count values sequentially input are within the allowable range, and the detection target if the count values sequentially input are out of the allowable range. It can be determined that the nozzle of Nozzle is a defective nozzle LN.
By performing the above-mentioned processing for each nozzle 64, the control unit 46 can grasp the state of each nozzle 64 and can store information indicating the position of the defective nozzle LN in a memory such as the RAM 44.

Of course, the detection of the defective nozzle LN is not limited to the method described above. For example, the defective nozzle LN can also be detected by a means for optically detecting the ejected ink droplets, a means for detecting the ejected state of the ink droplets by changing the electric capacity, and the like. In addition, it is also possible to eject ink droplets 67 from a plurality of nozzles 64 while sequentially switching target nozzles, and to accept operation input of information (for example, nozzle number) for identifying nozzles in which dots are not formed on the printed matter M1. Included in the detection of. Further, if the information for identifying the defective nozzle LN is stored in, for example, a non-volatile memory before shipping from the manufacturing factory, it is not necessary to provide the defective nozzle detection unit U4 in the recording device 1.

(3) Examples of ink ejection control for ink that reacts with the reaction layer and ink droplets:
The components of the ink droplets 67 ejected from the plurality of nozzles 64 react with the substance contained in the reaction layer RE1 of the printed matter M1 on which the ink droplets 67 have landed (for example, modified polyethyleneimine which is a cationic substance having agglomerating properties). .. This produces agglomerates containing colorants.

FIG. 7 is a table showing examples of components and physical properties of Cy ink, Ma ink, Ye ink, Bk ink, and Gr ink. The% indication of the composition shown in this table is% by weight. Here, "Cy pigment" is a cyan pigment, "Ma pigment" is a magenta pigment, "Ye pigment" is a yellow pigment, and "Bk pigment" is a black pigment (for example). Carbon black). The "resin solution A", "resin solution B", "resin solution C", and "resin solution D" are all acrylic styrene-based polymer solutions and are anionic substances having agglomerating properties. The pH of each ink is adjusted to 7.5 to 8.5, and the viscosity is adjusted to 3.3 to 3.8 cp.
In the Cy ink, Ma ink, Ye ink, and Bk ink that become the first ink droplet i1, the resin solution A, the resin solution B, the resin solution C, the resin solution D, and the anionic surfactant A are cohesive. It is an anionic substance having. In Gr ink, which is the second ink droplet i2 for retouching, the resin solution D and the anionic surfactant A are anionic substances having cohesiveness.

The "surface tension" (unit: mN / m) and "anionic" shown in FIG. 7 indicate the physical properties of the ink of the component shown in FIG. 7. Here, "anionic" means that a solution containing a cationic indicator substance (for example, magnesium ion) that reacts with the anionic substance (for example, a magnesium sulfate 3% by weight aqueous solution) is dropped into the ink until all the pigments aggregate. The relative value of the drop quantification (relative value with Cy ink as 100) is shown. Judgment of pigment aggregation is confirmed by sedimentation due to aging, separation is performed by centrifugation, change in indicator color is observed by using an indicator (for example, methylene blue and chloroform) in combination, and change in viscoelasticity by a leometer. It may be judged by the drop quantification in which the change is no longer observed by any of the means such as detecting the change in particle size distribution by DLS (Dynamic light scattering). Therefore, "anionic" is a numerical value proportional to the number of moles of the cationic indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the ink of a unit weight, and is substantially a numerical value corresponding to the number of moles of the indicator substance. be.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the anionicity of the Gr ink that becomes the second ink droplet i2 is higher than the anionicity of the Cy ink, Ma ink, Ye ink, and Bk ink that become the first ink droplet i1. That is, the number of moles of the cationic indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the second ink droplet i2 of the unit weight is the indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the first ink droplet i1 of the unit weight. Greater than the number of moles of.
In order to increase the anionic property of the ink, a material containing an anionic substance having aggregating properties (for example, resin solution A, resin solution B, resin solution C, resin solution D, and anionic surfactant A). The compounding ratio of at least one of) may be increased. In order to reduce the anionic property of the ink, at least of a material containing an anionic substance having agglomerating property (for example, resin solution A, resin solution B, resin solution C, resin solution D, and anionic surfactant A). The compounding ratio of 1) may be reduced.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the surface tensions of the Cy ink, Ma ink, Ye ink, and Bk ink, which are the first ink droplets i1, are lower than the surface tensions of the Gr ink, which is the second ink droplets i2.
In order to reduce the surface tension of the ink, the blending ratio of the surfactant (for example, at least one of the anionic surfactant A and the nonionic surfactant B) may be increased. Even if the compounding ratio of the solvent (for example, at least one of propylene glycol, 2-pyrrolidone, 1,2-hexanediol, and diethylamine) is increased and the compounding ratio of pure water is decreased, the surface tension of the ink is lowered. Can be done. In order to increase the surface tension of the ink, the blending ratio of the surfactant (for example, at least one of the anionic surfactant A and the nonionic surfactant B) may be reduced. Even if the compounding ratio of the solvent (for example, at least one of propylene glycol, 2-pyrrolidone, 1,2-hexanediol, and diethylamine) is decreased and the compounding ratio of pure water is increased, the surface tension of the ink is increased. Can be done.

First, with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19, the ground color streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN will be described in a comparative example in which Gr ink, which is a retouching ink, is not used. FIGS. 18 and 19 schematically show a state in which a 100% image of only Bk is printed when a defective nozzle LN in which ink droplets 67Bk is not ejected occurs in one of the nozzles 64Bk of Bk in the comparative example. Ink other than Bk ink shall not be ejected from the recording head. FIG. 18 shows how ink droplets 67Bk of Bk are formed when viewed from the downstream side of the feeding direction D2. FIG. 19 shows how conspicuous streaks are formed along the feed direction D2 on the surface of the printed matter M1.
The ink droplet 67Bk of Bk is ejected from the nozzle 64Bk other than the defective nozzle LN to the entire surface of the printed matter M1. Since the reaction layer RE1 formed by applying the reaction liquid RE0 on the surface of the printed matter M1, the landed liquid ink droplet 67Bk reacts with the reaction layer RE1 before spreading. As a result, the coloring material of the ink droplet 67Bk aggregates and the diameter of the dot DT does not widen, and the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN appears as a ground color (for example, white) streaks along the feed direction D2. ..

If the reaction layer RE1 can be finely patterned, the liquid ink droplet 67Bk is spread over the line-shaped region A1 by not forming the reaction layer RE1 only in the line-shaped region A1 in order to make the ground color streaks inconspicuous. Is possible. However, in order to pattern the reaction layer RE1, it is necessary to separately prepare a recording head having a plurality of nozzles for discharging the reaction liquid RE0, which increases the cost of the recording device. Further, when the viscosity of the reaction solution RE0 is high, the ink droplets of the reaction solution RE0 are larger than the ink droplets for image formation, and the ink droplets of the reaction solution RE0 are finely formed so that the reaction layer RE1 is not formed only in the linear region A1. Is difficult to discharge.

In this specific example, in the printed matter M1, the first ink droplet i1 to be ejected from the defective nozzle LN with respect to the same position P0 (see FIG. 4) of the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN is preceded. The second ink droplet i2 of Gr is landed at the timing of landing. As a result, after the reactivity of the reaction layer RE1 in the line-shaped region A1 is suppressed by Gr ink, the liquid first ink droplet i1 that has landed in the vicinity bleeds toward the line-shaped region A1 and the ground color streaks. Becomes hard to see.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates the original data DA1 generated by the halftone processing unit 46d (see FIG. 2) of the recording device 1. FIG. 9 schematically illustrates the modification data DA2 generated by the modification unit 46e (see FIG. 2) of the recording device 1. 8 and 9 schematically show an example in which the heads H0Bk and H0Gr have eight nozzles 64Bk and 64Gr, respectively, for simplification. The original data DA1 shown in FIG. 8 is binary data indicating the presence or absence of the formation of small dot DTs of Bk ink, the left half is data representing an image of 100% Bk, and the right half is data representing an image of 50% Bk. .. The modification data DA2 shown in FIG. 9 is data indicating whether or not a small dot DT is formed for Bk ink, and data indicating whether or not a large dot (correction dot DT2) is formed for Gr ink. The pixel PX shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is a minimum element constituting an image to which colors can be independently assigned, and forms a dot DT including a small dot (normal dot DT1) and a large dot (modified dot DT2). It is a unit area to which whether or not it is allocated. Of the plurality of pixels PX arranged in the width direction D3 and the feed direction D2 of the printed matter M1, the pixel PXL indicates a pixel in the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN. The second region A2 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 shows a region recorded by a normal nozzle other than a defective nozzle LN among a plurality of nozzles 64Bk on the surface of the printed matter M1. The retouching nozzle RN included in the plurality of nozzles 64Gr is a nozzle corresponding to the defective nozzle LN, and is a nozzle that forms the retouching dot DT2 in the line-shaped region A1 to be recorded by the defective nozzle LN.

Hereinafter, an example of ink droplet ejection control will be described with reference to FIG. 2.
When the modification unit 46e of the recording device 1 acquires the position information of the defective nozzle LN from the defective nozzle detection unit 70, the data (referred to as defective nozzle data) to be formed by the defective nozzle LN is obtained from the original data DA1. delete. Then, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 9, for the dot DT of Bk, the modification data DA2 is generated in which the data representing the normal dot DT1 of the line-shaped region A1 is lost from the original data DA1. Further, the modification unit 46e generates modification data DA2 indicating that a large dot of Gr is formed on the pixel PXL where the normal dot DT1 of Bk was planned to be formed for the dot of Gr. The drive signal transmission unit 46f of the recording device 1 generates a drive signal SG based on the modification data DA2 and outputs the drive signal SG to the drive circuit 52. The drive circuit 52 drives each drive element 51 according to the drive signal SG.
In the modified portion 46e of this embodiment, a large dot of Gr is formed on the pixel PXL where the normal dot DT1 of Bk at the position of the defective nozzle LN was planned to be formed, but the pixel PXL at the position of the defective nozzle LN is formed. Large dots of Gr may be formed on all of them, large dots of Gr may be formed regularly or randomly on the pixel PXL at the position of the defective nozzle LN, or large dots of Gr may be formed on the pixel PXL at the position of the defective nozzle LN. In consideration of the Bk dot DT generation situation at the adjacent nozzle position of, for example, the arrangement of the large dots of Gr may be determined so as to be adjacent to the Bk dot DT at the adjacent nozzle position of the defective nozzle LN.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, the Gr nozzle 64Gr ejects the Gr ink droplet 67Gr at the timing of landing on the same position P0 of the printed matter M1 before the Bk ink droplet 67Bk. Therefore, after the ink droplet 67Gr for a large dot lands on the pixel PXL on which the modified dot DT2 of Gr adjacent to the normal dot DT1 of Bk is formed in the width direction D3, the ink droplet 67Gr for a large dot is landed on the pixel PX adjacent to the pixel PX in the width direction D3 for small dots. Ink droplet 67Bk lands.

In FIG. 10, the modified dot DT2 of the ink droplet 67Gr of Gr and the normal dot DT1 of the ink droplet 67Bk of Bk are formed in the range along the width direction D3 including the position P0 where the ink droplet 67Gr of Gr is formed. The situation is schematically illustrated. FIG. 11 schematically illustrates how the ink droplet 67Bk of Bk bleeds toward the line-shaped region A1.

In the line-shaped region A1, first, as shown in the upper part of FIGS. 10 and 11, the ink droplet 67Gr, which is the second ink droplet i2 ejected from the modification nozzle RN, lands and the modification dot DT2 is formed. At this time, since Gr ink contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness like Bk ink, it reacts with the cohesive cationic substance in the reaction layer RE1 of the printed matter M1. That is, the cohesive anionic substance of Gr ink and the cohesive cationic substance of the reaction layer RE1 are aggregated by ionic bonds, and the reactivity of the portion of the reaction layer RE1 covered with the ink droplet 67 Gr is suppressed. ..

Next, as shown in the lower part of FIGS. 10 and 11, the ink droplet 67Bk, which is the first ink droplet i1 ejected from the normal nozzle 64Bk in the vicinity of the defective nozzle LN in the width direction D3, is in the vicinity of the line-shaped region A1. The normal dot DT1 is formed by landing on the ink. In the lower part of FIG. 11, the broken line of the normal dot DT1 indicates the position at the moment when the ink droplet 67Bk lands. When the normal dot DT1 of Bk is formed, the region of the reaction layer RE1 covered with the ink droplet 67Gr along the linear region A1 is in the vicinity (particularly adjacent position) because the reactivity is suppressed. Does not react with the cohesive anionic substance contained in the ink droplet 67Bk that has landed on the surface. As a result, the normal dot DT1 of Bk is blurred toward the linear region A1 covered with the modification dot DT2 as shown by the arrow shown above the modification dot DT2 of Gr in the lower part of FIGS. 10 and 11. When Gr's modified dot DT2 is still liquid, Bk's normal dot DT1 tends to bleed. In the lower part of FIG. 11, it is schematically shown that the normal dot DT1 extends from the broken line portion toward the line-shaped region A1. Compared with the comparative examples shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, it can be seen that in this specific example, the range not covered by the dots of Bk is narrowed in the line-shaped region A1. Therefore, in this specific example, it is difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle.

Further, since the modified dot DT2 of Gr is larger than the normal dot DT1 of Bk, the region covered by the ink droplet 67Gr spreads along the line-shaped region A1 of the reaction layer RE1, and the ink droplet 67Bk is linear. It tends to bleed toward the region A1. Therefore, the streaks caused by the defective nozzles are more difficult to see.
Further, since the anionic property of the Gr ink is higher than that of the Bk ink, the reactivity of the region of the reaction layer RE1 covered with the ink droplet 67 Gr along the line-shaped region A1 is effectively suppressed. .. Therefore, the streaks caused by the defective nozzles are more difficult to see.

Further, since the surface tension of the Bk ink is lower than the surface tension of the Gr ink, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 10, the modified dot DT2 having a relatively high surface tension of Gr is a normal dot having a relatively low surface tension of Bk. It is easy to be covered with DT1. Therefore, the streaks caused by the defective nozzles are more difficult to see.

In this specific example, although the color of the ink droplet 67Gr that lands first is different from the color of the ink droplet 67Bk that lands in the vicinity later, the normal dot DT1 of Bk bleeds toward the line-shaped region A1. , It becomes difficult to see the streaks along the line-shaped region A1. Further, when the line-shaped region A1 is covered with the medium-brightness Gr ink instead of the high-brightness ground color (for example, white), the streaks along the line-shaped region A1 become more difficult to see.

The modification unit 46e of the recording device 1 has original data based on the position information of the defective nozzle LN from the detection unit 70 even if a defective nozzle LN occurs in the nozzle 64Cy of Cy, the nozzle 64Ma of Ma, and the nozzle 64Ye of Ye. The modification data DA2 is generated from DA1. When the defective nozzle LN is the nozzle 64Cy, the modification unit 46e eliminates the normal dot DT1 of Cy from the linear region A1 and instead generates the modification data DA2 in which the modification dot DT2 derived from the modification nozzle RN of Gr is arranged. do. When the defective nozzle LN is the nozzle 64Ma, the modification unit 46e eliminates the normal dot DT1 of Ma from the line-shaped region A1 and instead generates the modification data DA2 in which the modification dot DT2 derived from the modification nozzle RN of Gr is arranged. do. When the defective nozzle LN is the nozzle 64Ye, the modification unit 46e eliminates the normal dot DT1 of Ye from the linear region A1 and instead generates the modification data DA2 in which the modification dot DT2 derived from the modification nozzle RN of Gr is arranged. do.

In either case, the normal dots DT1 of Cy, Ma, and Ye bleed toward the line-shaped region A1 covered with the modified dots DT2 of Gr, so that the streaks caused by the defective nozzles become difficult to see. Further, the modified dot DT2 of Gr is larger than the normal dot DT1 of Cy, Ma, Ye, the anionic property of Gr ink is higher than the anionic property of Cy ink, Ma ink, and Ye ink, and Cy ink, Ma ink, and the like. The fact that the surface tension of the Ye ink is lower than the surface tension of the Gr ink, and that the line-shaped region A1 is covered with the medium-brightness Gr ink instead of the high-brightness ground color also causes streaks caused by the defective nozzle. It becomes even more difficult to see.

In the above example, the normal dot DT1 such as Bk is overlapped in the state where the Gr correction dot DT2 is in a liquid state, and the difference in surface tension is also used to make it easier to bleed. Dot DT1 may be overlapped. Since the reactivity of the reaction layer RE1 is suppressed by the modified dot DT2 of Gr, bleeding of the normal dot DT1 such as Bk occurs, and it becomes difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle.

Although it is preferable to use achromatic and medium-brightness Gr ink in order to reduce streaks caused by defective nozzles, the second ink droplet i2 that has landed is covered with the first ink droplet i1. CL (colorless) ink, Wh (white) ink, chromatic color ink, etc. may be used. Of course, as a result of the liquid first ink droplet i1 landing later spreading toward the line-shaped region A1, the concentration of the color material of the first ink droplet i1 decreases. Therefore, it is preferable to use an ink containing some kind of color material to compensate for the decrease in the color material density, such as Gr ink, and a color that does not cause a large change in color even when mixed with the first ink droplet i1. It is more preferred to use ink containing the material. In this case, it is possible to reduce the graininess of the dots by using Gr ink for the image (particularly the highlight portion).

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates the original data DA1 when Gr ink, which is a retouching ink, is used for image formation. FIG. 13 schematically illustrates the modification data DA2 representing a dot pattern in which the modification dot DT2 is added to the normal dot DT1 of Gr. FIGS. 12 and 13 also schematically show an example in which the heads H0Bk and H0Gr have eight nozzles 64Bk and 64Gr, respectively, for simplification. The original data DA1 shown in FIG. 12 is binary data indicating the presence or absence of formation of small dot DTs of Bk ink and Gr ink, the left half is data representing an image of 100% Bk, and the right half is an image including a highlight portion. It is the data representing. The modification data DA2 shown in FIG. 13 is data indicating the presence or absence of formation of small dot DT for Bk ink, and data indicating the formation state of small dots (normal dot DT1) and large dots (correction dot DT2) for Gr ink. It is said that.

An example of ink droplet ejection control will be described with reference to FIG.
When the modification unit 46e of the recording device 1 acquires the position information of the defective nozzle LN from the detection unit 70, the defective nozzle data that was planned to be formed by the defective nozzle LN is deleted from the original data DA1. As for the dot DT of Bk, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 13, the modification data DA2 is generated from the original data DA1 in which the data representing the normal dot DT1 of the line-shaped region A1 is lost. Further, the modification unit 46e generates modification data DA2 representing a dot pattern in which a large dot of Gr is added to the pixel PXL which was planned to form a normal dot DT1 of Bk for the dot of Gr. The drive signal transmission unit 46f of the recording device 1 generates a drive signal SG based on the modification data DA2 and outputs the drive signal SG to the drive circuit 52. The drive circuit 52 drives each drive element 51 according to the drive signal SG.

That is, the nozzle 64Gr of Gr ejects the second ink droplet i2 for retouching to the second region A2 other than the line-shaped region A1 in addition to the line-shaped region A1 with respect to the printed matter M1. The control unit 46 of the recording device 1 controls the dots formed by the ink droplets 67 Gr ejected from the nozzle 64 Gr so that the second region A2 is smaller than the line-shaped region A1.

From the above, regarding the modified dot DT2 of Gr adjacent to the normal dot DT1 of Bk in the width direction D3, after the ink droplet 67Gr for a large dot lands on the pixel PXL, the ink droplet 67Gr for a large dot lands on the pixel PXL and then the small dot is used for the pixel PX adjacent to the pixel PX in the width direction D3. Ink droplet 67Bk lands. The ink droplet 67Bk bleeds toward the line-shaped region A1. Further, since the normal dot DT1 of Gr is formed in the highlight portion of the image, the graininess of the image is suppressed. When the normal dot DT1 of Gr is smaller than the modified dot DT2, the graininess of the image is further suppressed.

A known dot complement technique such as enlarging the dots of pixels adjacent to the line-shaped region A1 may be combined with this specific example.

(4) Modification example:
Various modifications of the present invention can be considered.
For example, the recording device is not limited to a line printer, and may be a serial printer having a carriage equipped with a recording head for ejecting ink droplets, a copying machine, a facsimile, a multifunction device having these functions, or the like.
In the specific example described above, the reaction layer forming portion U3 is a roll coater type reaction liquid coating unit 12, but the present technique is not limited to this. For example, although the cost of the recording device is increased, the reaction layer RE1 may be formed by preparing a recording head for discharging the reaction liquid and discharging the reaction liquid RE0 from a plurality of nozzles of the recording head onto the printed matter M0. good.
In the specific example described above, the ejection of the second ink droplet i2 for modification is controlled by generating the modification data DA2 from the original data DA1 after the halftone processing, but the present technique is not limited to this. For example, from the CMYK data of 256 gradations representing the usage amounts of Cy ink, Ma ink, Ye ink, and Bk ink generated by the color conversion unit 46c shown in FIG. 2, Gr ink in the line-shaped region A1. The ejection of the second ink droplet i2 for retouching may be controlled by generating retouching data of 256 gradations representing the usage amount.

In the above-mentioned specific examples, the reaction liquid RE0 and the reaction layer RE1 contain a cationic substance having cohesiveness, and the ink droplets i1 and i2 contain an anionic substance having cohesiveness, but the present technique is not limited thereto. For example, a reaction solution RE0 and a reaction layer RE1 containing an acidic substance (for example, an organic acid such as maleic acid or succinic acid) that weakens the repulsion between the anionic substances of the ink and aggregates them may be adopted. In this case, the pH of the second ink droplet i2 is preferably higher than the pH of the first ink droplet i1.

The recording device 1 described above uses five colors of ink, but the present technique is not limited to this, and can be applied to a recording device using four or less colors of ink and a recording device using six or more colors of ink. Is. Further, the relationship between the first ink droplet and the second ink droplet is not limited to being fixed, and the roles may be exchanged depending on the combination. Further, the second ink droplet for retouching may be a chromatic ink droplet.

FIG. 14 schematically shows a line printer using seven colors of ink as another example of the recording device 1. The same components as those in the specific example described above will not be described in detail.
In the printing unit 13 shown in FIG. 14, Gr heads, Lc heads, Lm heads, Cy heads, Ma heads, Ye heads, and Bk heads are arranged in order from the upstream side in the feed direction D2. Has been printed. Here, the Gy ink contains the color material contained in the Bk ink at a concentration lower than that of the Bk ink, the Lc ink contains the color material contained in the Cy ink at a concentration lower than that of the Cy ink, and the Lm ink is contained in the Ma ink. It contains the coloring material to be used in a lower concentration than Ma ink.

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates the correspondence between the color of the first ink droplet i1 (described as a defective ink droplet) and the color of the second ink droplet i2 (described as a modified ink droplet). The closer the hue of the second ink droplet i2 is to the hue of the first ink droplet i1, the less conspicuous the line-shaped streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN. Therefore, it is decided to select the modification nozzle RN that ejects the modified ink droplets having a color corresponding to the color of the ink droplets to be ejected by the defective nozzle LN.

In the example shown in FIG. 15, when the nozzle for ejecting the first ink droplet i1 of Cy (example of the first nozzle N1) is a defective nozzle LN, the nozzle for ejecting the second ink droplet i2 of Lc (second nozzle N2). Example) is used as a modification nozzle RN. The Lc ink droplet contains the coloring material contained in the first ink droplet i1 of Cy at a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet i1. When the nozzle for ejecting the first ink droplet i1 of Ma (example of the first nozzle N1) is a defective nozzle LN, the nozzle for ejecting the second ink droplet i2 of Lm (example of the second nozzle N2) is the modified nozzle RN. Used as. The Lm ink droplet contains the coloring material contained in the first ink droplet i1 of Ma at a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet i1. When the nozzle for ejecting the first ink droplet i1 of Ye (example of the first nozzle N1) is a defective nozzle LN, the nozzle for ejecting the second ink droplet i2 of Gr (example of the second nozzle N2) is the modified nozzle RN. Used as. When the nozzle for ejecting the first ink droplet i1 of Bk (example of the first nozzle N1) is a defective nozzle LN, the nozzle for ejecting the second ink droplet i2 of Gr (example of the second nozzle N2) is the modified nozzle RN. Used as. The Gr ink droplet contains the coloring material contained in the first ink droplet i1 of Bk at a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet i1. When the nozzle for ejecting the first ink droplet i1 of Lc (example of the first nozzle N1) is a defective nozzle LN, the nozzle for ejecting the second ink droplet i2 of Gr (example of the second nozzle N2) is the modified nozzle RN. Used as. When the nozzle for ejecting the first ink droplet i1 of Lm (example of the first nozzle N1) is a defective nozzle LN, the nozzle for ejecting the second ink droplet i2 of Gr (example of the second nozzle N2) is the modified nozzle RN. Used as.

As shown in FIG. 14, the head that ejects Gr ink droplets that are always the second ink droplets i2 (example of the second ejection unit E2) is on the upstream side of the head that ejects ink droplets of the remaining colors. Is located in. The head that ejects the Lc ink droplet that becomes the second ink droplet i2 relative to the first ink droplet i1 of Cy (example of the second ejection unit E2) is upstream from the head that ejects the ink droplet of Cy. It is placed on the side. The head that ejects the Lm ink droplet that becomes the second ink droplet i2 relative to the first ink droplet i1 of Ma (example of the second ejection portion E2) is upstream from the head that ejects the ink droplet of Ma. It is placed on the side.

FIG. 16 is a table showing examples of components and physical properties of Cy ink, Ma ink, Ye ink, Bk ink, Lc ink, Lm ink, and Gr ink. The meaning of each item of the material is the same as that of each item of the material shown in FIG. As in the case of FIG. 7, the% display of the composition shown in FIG. 16 is% by weight, the pH of each ink is adjusted to 7.5 to 8.5, and the viscosity is 3.3 to 3.8 cp. It is adjusted to be. The resin solution A, the resin solution B, the resin solution C, the resin solution D, and the anionic surfactant A are anionic substances having agglomerating properties.

In the example shown in FIG. 16, the anionic property of the Gr ink, which is always the second ink droplet i2, is higher than the anionic property of the remaining ink. The anionic property of the Lc ink, which becomes the second ink droplet i2 relative to the first ink droplet i1 of Cy, is higher than the anionic property of the Cy ink. The anionic property of the Lm ink, which becomes the second ink droplet i2 relative to the first ink droplet i1 of Ma, is higher than the anionic property of the Ma ink. That is, in each case, the number of moles of the cationic indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the second ink droplet i2 of the unit weight is the same as that of the anionic substance contained in the first ink droplet i1 of the unit weight. It is larger than the number of moles of the indicator substance to react.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 16, the surface tension of the remaining ink is lower than the surface tension of the Gr ink which is always the second ink droplet i2. The surface tension of the Cy ink is lower than the surface tension of the Lc ink, which is the second ink droplet i2 relative to the first ink droplet i1 of Cy. The surface tension of the Ma ink is lower than the surface tension of the Lm ink, which is the second ink droplet i2 relative to the first ink droplet i1 of Ma. That is, in either case, the surface tension of the first ink droplet i1 is lower than the surface tension of the second ink droplet i2.

By making each ink the above-mentioned components and physical properties, when a defective nozzle LN occurs in the nozzle of Cy or Ma, the ink droplet of Lc or Lm can be used as the second ink droplet i2, and Lc or Lm. When a defective nozzle LN is generated in the nozzle of Nozzle, the ink droplet of Gr can be used as the second ink droplet i2. That is, the ink droplets of Lc and Lm may serve as both the first ink droplet i1 and the second ink droplet i2.

An example of ink droplet ejection control will be described with reference to FIG.
When the modification unit 46e of the recording device 1 acquires the position information of the defective nozzle LN from the defective nozzle detection unit 70, the defective nozzle data that was planned to be formed by the defective nozzle LN is deleted from the original data DA1.

For example, when the defective nozzle LN is a Bk nozzle, the modification data DA2 is generated for the Bk dot DT without the data representing the dots in the line-shaped region A1 from the original data DA1. In this case, the modification unit 46e generates modification data DA2 indicating that the dots of Gr are formed in the pixels of the line-shaped region A1 where the dots of Bk were to be formed. As a result, Gr modification dots are formed in the line-shaped region A1, and ink droplets of Bk landed in the vicinity bleed toward the line-shaped region A1, making it difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN. Since the Gr ink contains the color material contained in the Bk ink at a lower concentration than that of the Bk ink, a part of the original color component is imparted to the line-shaped region A1, and the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN are more difficult to see.

The same applies when the defective nozzle LN is a nozzle of Ye, Lc, Lm. Gr modification dots are formed in the line-shaped region A1, and the first ink droplet i1 landed in the vicinity bleeds toward the line-shaped region A1, making it difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN.

When the defective nozzle LN is a Cy nozzle, the modification data DA2 is generated for the Cy dot DT without the data representing the dots in the line-shaped region A1 from the original data DA1. In this case, the modification unit 46e generates modification data DA2 indicating that the dots of Lc are formed in the pixels of the line-shaped region A1 where the dots of Cy were planned to be formed. As a result, Lc retouching dots are formed in the line-shaped region A1, and the ink droplets of Cy landed in the vicinity bleed toward the line-shaped region A1, making it difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN. Since the Lc ink contains the color material contained in the Cy ink at a concentration lower than that of the Bk ink, a part of the original color component is imparted to the line-shaped region A1, and the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN are more difficult to see.

When the defective nozzle LN is a nozzle of Ma, the modification data DA2 in which the data representing the dots of the line-shaped region A1 is lost from the original data DA1 is generated for the dot DT of Ma. In this case, the modification unit 46e generates modification data DA2 indicating that the dots of Lm are formed in the pixels of the line-shaped region A1 where the dots of Ma were to be formed. As a result, Lm retouching dots are formed in the line-shaped region A1, and the ink droplets of Ma landed in the vicinity bleed toward the line-shaped region A1, making it difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN. Since the Lm ink contains the color material contained in the Ma ink at a concentration lower than that of the Bk ink, a part of the original color component is imparted to the line-shaped region A1, and the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN are more difficult to see.

When the first ink droplet i1 has a so-called special color such as Red, Green, Blue, or the like, the color of the second ink droplet i2 for retouching can be set in the same manner. At that time, if an ink having a hue as close as possible to the first ink droplet i1 is selected as the second ink droplet i2 for retouching, the streaks caused by the defective nozzle can be made more difficult to see. Further, ink droplets of a plurality of colors different from each other may be used as the second ink droplet i2 for retouching. For example, when the defective nozzle is a Blue nozzle, the Lc ink droplet and the Lm ink droplet may be combined as the second ink droplet i2 for retouching. In this case, since the hue of the mixed color of Lc and Lm is close to the hue of Blue, it becomes more difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle.

By the way, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the present technique may be applied to a serial printer. FIG. 17 schematically illustrates a state in which bidirectional band printing (an example of single-pass printing) is performed as an example of a recording method of a serial printer. In single-pass printing of a serial printer, dots are formed by one scan on a raster (line-shaped region) along the main scanning direction (feed direction D2). In bidirectional band printing, as shown in FIG. 17, the head unit 20 which is a carriage is moved in the forward direction with respect to the first band B1 of the printed matter M1 to form a dot pattern, and the printed matter M1 2 The head unit 20 is moved in the return direction with respect to the third band B2 to form a dot pattern, and the head unit 20 is moved in the forward direction with respect to the third band B3 of the printed matter M1 to form a dot pattern. Hereinafter, the movement (main scanning) of the head unit 20 in the return direction and the forward direction is repeated to form a dot pattern. When the Gr ink droplets are used as the second ink droplets i2 for retouching, it is preferable to arrange the Gr recording heads H0Gr at both ends of the head unit 20 in the main scanning direction (feeding direction D2). For example, it is assumed that the defective nozzle LN is a Bk nozzle. At the time of the main scan in the forward direction, one head of Gr (the head on the right side in FIG. 17) is on the upstream side of the head H0Bk of Bk. (2) Ink droplets i2 can be ejected. During the main scan in the return direction, the other head of Gr (the head on the left side in FIG. 17) is on the upstream side of the head H0Bk of Bk. (2) Ink droplets i2 can be ejected.

Of course, when performing unidirectional band printing, the other head of Gr is unnecessary.
Further, in the case of multi-pass printing in which dots are formed by main scanning one raster two or more times, it is not necessary to arrange the Gr head H0Gr on the upstream side of the Bk head H0Bk or the like. For example, when Gr ink droplets are ejected from the head H0Gr in the first pass and Br ink droplets are ejected from the head H0Bk in the second pass, the Bk ink droplets landing in the vicinity of the line-shaped region A1 are line-shaped. It bleeds toward the region A1 and it becomes difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN. However, in the case of a serial printer that performs multi-pass printing, various other dot interpolation methods can be adopted, so this technology is a recording device that performs single-pass printing (line printers and serial printers). It is suitable to apply to both.).

If the modified dot DT2 is not larger than the normal dot DT1 and the anionic property of the second ink droplet i2 is not higher than the anionic property of the first ink droplet i1, the surface tension of the first ink droplet i1 is the second ink. If the surface tension of the drop i2 is not lower than that of the droplet i2, etc. are also included in aspects 1, 10 and 11 of the present technology. Even in this case, since the first ink droplet i1 bleeds toward the line-shaped region A1 covered with the modification dot DT2, it becomes difficult to see the streaks caused by the defective nozzle LN.

(5) Conclusion:
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for making streaks caused by defective nozzles difficult to see even when the reaction layer that reacts with ink cannot be finely patterned according to various aspects. Of course, the above-mentioned basic operations and effects can be obtained even with a technique consisting only of the constituent elements according to the independent claims.
Further, the configurations in which the configurations disclosed in the above-mentioned examples are mutually replaced or the combinations are changed, the known techniques and the configurations disclosed in the above-mentioned examples are mutually replaced or the combinations are changed. It is also possible to implement the above-mentioned configuration. The present invention also includes these configurations and the like.

1 ... Recording device, 11 ... Feeding unit, 12 ... Reaction liquid coating unit, 13 ... Printing unit, 14 ... Hot air furnace, 15 ... Winding unit, 20 ... Head unit, 41 ... Feed mechanism, 44 ... RAM, 45 ... ROM , 46 ... Control unit, 51 ... Drive element, 52 ... Drive circuit, 64 ... Nozzle, 65 ... Ink cartridge, 66 ... Ink, 67 ... Ink droplets, 68 ... Nozzle row, 70 ... Detection unit, A1 ... Line-shaped area , A2 ... second area, D1 ... alignment direction, D2 ... feed direction (example of relative movement direction), D3 ... width direction, DA0 ... print data, DA1 ... original data, DA2 ... modification data, DT ... dot, DT1 ... Normal dot, DT2 ... Modified dot, E1 ... First ejection unit, E2 ... Second ejection unit, H0 ... Head, H01 to H04 ... Head chip, HT1 ... Host device, i1 ... First ink droplet, i2 ... Second ink Drops, LN ... defective nozzles, RN ... repair nozzles, M0, M1 ... printed matter, M2 ... printed matter, N1 ... first nozzle, N2 ... second nozzle, P0 ... position, PX, PXL ... pixels, RE0 ... reaction liquid, RE1 ... reaction layer, U1 ... drive unit, U2 ... processing unit, U3 ... reaction layer forming unit, U4 ... defective nozzle detection unit.

Claims (12)

A first ejection section having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets onto a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink.
A second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at the timing of landing on the same position of the printed matter before the first ink droplet.
A drive unit that moves the printed matter relative to the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit in the relative movement direction.
A processing unit that ejects the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. , Including
The reaction layer contains a cohesive cationic substance and contains.
The first ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the first ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The second ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the second ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The number of moles of the cationic indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the second ink droplet of the unit weight is the molar number of the indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the first ink droplet of the unit weight. A recording device that is larger than the number. A first ejection section having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets onto a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink.
A second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at the timing of landing on the same position of the printed matter before the first ink droplet.
A drive unit that moves the printed matter relative to the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit in the relative movement direction.
A processing unit that ejects the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. , Including
The second ink droplet is a recording device containing the coloring material contained in the first ink droplet at a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet. A first ejection section having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets onto a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink.
A second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles for ejecting the second ink droplet at the timing of landing on the same position of the printed matter before the first ink droplet.
A drive unit that moves the printed matter relative to the first discharge unit and the second discharge unit in the relative movement direction.
A processing unit that ejects the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. , Including
The second nozzle ejects the second ink droplet to the second region other than the line-shaped region in addition to the line-shaped region with respect to the printed matter.
The processing unit is a recording device that controls the dots formed by the second ink droplets ejected from the second nozzle so that the second region is smaller than the line-shaped region. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of second nozzles are arranged on the upstream side of the plurality of first nozzles in the relative moving direction of the printed matter. .. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a reaction layer forming portion for adhering a reaction liquid changing to the reaction layer to the printed matter having no reaction layer. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a defective nozzle detecting unit for detecting defective nozzles included in the plurality of first nozzles. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the surface tension of the first ink droplet is lower than the surface tension of the second ink droplet. The recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second ink droplet is an ink droplet of an uncolored ink containing no coloring material or an ink droplet of an achromatic ink. A first ejection section having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and prior to the first ink droplets at the same position of the printed matter. A step of moving the printed matter relative to a second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles that eject second ink droplets at the timing of landing, and a step of moving the printed matter relative to the relative movement direction.
A step of ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle into a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. Including
The reaction layer contains a cohesive cationic substance and contains.
The first ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the first ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The second ink droplet contains an anionic substance having cohesiveness, and the second ink droplet contains an anionic substance.
The number of moles of the cationic indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the second ink droplet of the unit weight is the molar number of the indicator substance that reacts with the anionic substance contained in the first ink droplet of the unit weight. A recording method that is larger than the number . A first ejection section having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and prior to the first ink droplets at the same position of the printed matter. A step of moving the printed matter relative to a second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles that eject second ink droplets at the timing of landing, and a step of moving the printed matter relative to the relative movement direction.
A step of ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle into a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. Including
A recording method in which the second ink droplet contains a coloring material contained in the first ink droplet at a concentration lower than that of the first ink droplet. A first ejection section having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and prior to the first ink droplets at the same position of the printed matter. A step of moving the printed matter relative to a second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles that eject second ink droplets at the timing of landing, and a step of moving the printed matter relative to the relative movement direction.
A ejection control step of ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle into a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. And, including
The second nozzle ejects the second ink droplet to the second region other than the line-shaped region in addition to the line-shaped region with respect to the printed matter.
In the ejection control step, a recording method for controlling the dots formed by the second ink droplets ejected from the second nozzle so that the second region is smaller than the line-shaped region. A first ejection section having a plurality of first nozzles for ejecting first ink droplets to a printed matter having a reaction layer that reacts with ink, and prior to the first ink droplets at the same position of the printed matter. A movement control function that moves the printed matter relative to the second ejection unit having a plurality of second nozzles that eject second ink droplets at the timing of landing, and a movement control function that moves the printed matter relative to the relative movement direction.
A discharge control function for ejecting the second ink droplet from the second nozzle to a line-shaped region to be recorded by a defective nozzle included in the plurality of first nozzles in the printed matter that moves relative to the relative moving direction. To the computer ,
The second nozzle ejects the second ink droplet to the second region other than the line-shaped region in addition to the line-shaped region with respect to the printed matter.
The ejection control function is a recording program that controls dots formed by the second ink droplets ejected from the second nozzle so that the second region is smaller than the line-shaped region .

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