JPH115319A - Printing position adjustinc method, printer employing it and recording medium storing program for controlling adjustment of printing position - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a phenomenon where the ink of a specific color is consumed more than other color inks by changing the color to be printed through a color print head every time when a mode for regulating the relative shift of print timing is entered. SOLUTION: The embodiment is characterized in that the relative shift being varied in a plurality of patterns to be printed is set smaller than that varied in a pattern printed previously. When a pattern other than that located at the end is selected by a user among the plurality of patterns, relative shift thereof is reduced. More specifically, a repetitive adjustment determining section 30 determines the number of repeating times and controls the relative shift to be adjusted sequentially. Furthermore, a central control section 26 determines that a pattern other than that located at the end is selected by a user among the plurality of patterns based on the operating state of an operating panel 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which is provided with, for example, a monochrome printing head and a color printing head, and which performs printing while moving both heads in the direction in which these two heads are arranged. The present invention relates to a position adjusting method, a printing apparatus using the adjusting method, and a recording medium storing a control program for executing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of personal computers, graphic processing has become relatively easy to execute. Therefore, there is a demand for a printing apparatus capable of outputting a hard copy of, for example, a color image displayed on a display with high quality. To meet such a demand, a printing apparatus equipped with an ink jet print head has been provided. This ink jet printing apparatus is used for many printings including color printing, since the printing noise is relatively small and small dots can be formed at a high density.

[0003] Such an ink jet printing apparatus is
An ink jet print head that receives supply of ink from an ink storage unit, and a paper feeding unit that relatively moves the recording paper with respect to the head are provided. Is formed to perform printing.

In such a printing apparatus, a monochrome print head capable of discharging black ink onto a common head holder (carriage) and a color print head capable of discharging yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are provided. A print head is mounted to enable full-color printing by changing the discharge ratio of each color ink as well as text printing with black ink.

The carriage on which the monochrome print head and the color print head are mounted is pulled by a timing belt driven by the power of a carriage drive motor so as to be reciprocated in the print line direction. It is configured. That is, printing is performed while the monochrome print head and the color print head move in the direction in which the two heads are arranged.

In such a serial type printing apparatus, since the monochrome print head and the color print head are arranged apart from each other, it is natural that printing is performed on the same portion of the paper at the same timing. It cannot be applied. Therefore, the ink is ejected with the timing of generating the print signal applied to both heads being shifted, and as a result, the print position of the ink by the monochrome print head (landing position) and the print position by the color print head are changed. Are adjusted so as to coincide with each other with respect to the movement direction.

However, in practice, the relative position between the two heads is shifted due to the effects of assembly variations of the two heads, changes in the environmental temperature, vibrations, and the like. As a result, the print position of the monochrome print head and the print position of the color print head are shifted with respect to the moving direction of the head, and as a result, the print quality is deteriorated.

Therefore, a printing apparatus having a function of adjusting a printing position in order to correct such a printing deviation has been provided. FIG. 4 shows a conventional printing position adjusting method using a printing apparatus having a function of adjusting the printing position. This printing position adjustment method changes the relative shift amount of the printing timing between the monochrome print head and the color print head stepwise by gradually changing the delay timing data provided in the control unit of the printing apparatus. The plurality of patterns (in this case, 12 patterns (A) to (L)) are simultaneously printed on one page of A4 size paper, for example.

In the pattern shown in FIG. 4, a solid line is printed by a monochrome print head, and a broken line is printed by a color print head. In the case of an ink jet printing apparatus, such a pattern is formed on the ink ejection surface of the print head by using a nozzle row including a plurality of nozzles arranged in a direction orthogonal to the head moving direction (main scanning direction). The monochrome head can be formed by printing using the upper half nozzles, and the color head can be formed by printing using the lower half nozzles.

As can be seen from the patterns (A) to (L), the printing position (dashed line) of the color head with respect to the printing position (solid line) of the monochrome head is increasing from the pattern (A) to (L). , It is shifted to the right step by step.

[0011] Then, the user can use these patterns (A)
(L) are compared with each other, a pattern having the smallest deviation amount is selected, and a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input to the printing apparatus. In this case, since the shift amount of the pattern (I) is the smallest, the symbol (I) is input to the printing device.

When a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input to the printing device, data corresponding to the symbol (in this case, I) is written to a control unit of the printing device (hereinafter also referred to as a printer), thereby adjusting the printing position. Is completed.

In adjusting the printing position, the color of the color ink used for pattern printing in the color print head is limited to a specific color (for example, cyan).

[0014]

In the above-mentioned conventional adjusting method, the color used for pattern printing by the color print head is limited to a specific color. If performed, there is a problem that only the ink of the specific color is consumed more than the inks of other colors. For example, if the color used for pattern printing by the color inkjet head is cyan, only the cyan ink is consumed more than the other color inks.

Generally, a color ink cartridge contains an ink pack containing yellow, cyan, and magenta inks in one cartridge, and when any of the color inks is consumed to some extent,
The cartridge is replaced as it is.

Therefore, when only a specific ink is consumed as described above, the cartridge must be replaced even if other ink has a considerable remaining amount. For this reason, it is uneconomical for the user, and the ink is discarded in a state where the remaining amount of the other ink is relatively large, which may cause a problem in handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent a phenomenon when only a specific color ink is consumed more than other color inks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print position adjusting method capable of performing the method, a printing apparatus using the adjusting method, and a recording medium storing a print position adjusting control program.

[0018]

A printing position adjusting method according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, includes a monochrome printing head and a color printing head. In a printing device that performs printing while both heads move, a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount of the printing timing by both heads is changed stepwise are printed, and among the plurality of patterns, the smallest shift amount is printed. A print position adjusting method for adjusting a relative shift amount of print timing by both heads by allowing a user to select a pattern, wherein the color printing is performed each time an adjustment mode for adjusting a relative shift amount of print timing is entered. The printing color is changed by the head.

Further, the printing position adjusting method according to the present invention comprises:
In a printing apparatus which is provided with a monochrome print head and a color print head, and performs printing while both heads move in the direction in which these two heads are arranged, the relative shift amount of print timing by both heads is stepwisely determined. A plurality of changed patterns are printed, the user is allowed to select a pattern having the smallest deviation amount from the plurality of patterns, and then the selected pattern is set as a median value. Print timing by both heads by repeating the process of printing a plurality of patterns in which the amount of deviation is changed stepwise and allowing the user to select the pattern with the least amount of deviation from the plurality of patterns as necessary A printing position adjusting method for adjusting the color printing, wherein each time a plurality of patterns are printed, the color printing is performed. And wherein changing the color to be printed by de.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a monochrome print head and a color print head, and performs printing while both heads move in the direction in which the two heads are arranged. A print control unit that prints a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amounts of the print timings by the two heads are changed stepwise; and a pattern in which the shift amounts of the prints by the two heads are small among the plurality of printed patterns. A pattern input means for inputting a pattern shift amount, an adjustment timing shift amount storing means for storing data of a print timing shift amount based on a pattern having a small print shift amount input by the pattern input means, and a relative shift amount of the print timing. Each time the adjustment mode is entered, the adjustment is performed so that the color printed by the color print head is changed. Constituted by a pattern control unit.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a monochrome print head and a color print head, and performs printing while moving both heads in the direction in which these two heads are arranged. A print control unit that prints a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amounts of the print timings by the two heads are changed stepwise; and a pattern in which the shift amounts of the prints by the two heads are small among the plurality of printed patterns. And a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount of the print timing by both heads is changed stepwise, with a pattern having a small shift amount input by the pattern input means as a central value. To the print control means, and the amount of printing deviation by both heads from among the plurality of printed patterns. Adjusting pattern control means for managing input of a non-existing pattern to the pattern input means at least once or more, and controlling the color to be printed by the color print head each time a plurality of patterns are printed; and And an adjustment timing shift amount storing means for storing print timing shift amount data based on the pattern with a small shift amount input by the pattern input means.

In this case, it is preferable that the computer further comprises a host computer which takes in a control program for adjusting a printing position executed by the printing apparatus, wherein the host computer takes in the control program via a communication network, or The control program is loaded from a recording medium readable via a reading device.

The recording medium storing the control program for adjusting the printing position according to the present invention includes a monochrome print head and a color print head, and both print heads are arranged in the direction in which both print heads are arranged. A recording medium storing a control program for adjusting a printing position in a printing apparatus which performs printing while moving, wherein a plurality of patterns in which a relative shift amount of printing timing by the two heads is changed stepwise are controlled. Means for printing via a means, a step of inputting a pattern having a small amount of printing deviation by both heads from among the plurality of printed patterns in the pattern inputting means, and a printing deviation amount input by the pattern inputting means. The data of the shift amount of the print timing based on the pattern with less number is stored in the adjustment timing shift amount storage means. And causing the printing apparatus to execute a procedure for controlling the adjustment pattern control means so as to change a color to be printed by the color print head every time the adjustment mode for adjusting the relative shift amount of the print timing is entered. The program is stored so that it can be read.

The recording medium storing the control program for adjusting the print position according to the present invention includes a monochrome print head and a color print head, and both print heads are arranged in the direction in which both print heads are arranged. A recording medium storing a control program for adjusting a printing position in a printing apparatus which performs printing while moving, wherein a plurality of patterns in which a relative shift amount of printing timing by the two heads is changed stepwise are controlled. Means for printing through the means, a step of inputting a pattern having a small print shift amount by the two heads from the plurality of printed patterns in the pattern input means, and a step of inputting the shift amount input by the pattern input means. With the small pattern as the median value, the relative deviation of the printing timing between both heads is changed stepwise. At least once or more to input to the pattern input means, among the plurality of printed patterns, a pattern with a small amount of printing deviation by both heads. A procedure in which control is performed by the adjustment pattern control means to control to change the color to be printed by the color print head each time a plurality of patterns are printed, and a step of controlling the amount of printing displacement inputted by the pattern input means. A procedure for causing the printing apparatus to execute the procedure for storing the data of the shift amount of the print timing based on the small pattern in the adjustment timing shift amount storage means is stored so as to be readable. In this case, the readable recording medium is suitably a CD-R0M.

In either of the printing position adjusting method performed as described above or the printing position adjusting control program stored in the printing apparatus or the recording medium using the adjusting method, the monochrome print head and the color printing are executed. A plurality of patterns in which the relative deviation of the printing timing with the head is changed stepwise are printed by both heads, and the pattern with the least deviation is selected from the plurality of patterns by the user, and the printing position is adjusted. Is made.

Each time such a print position adjustment mode is entered, the color printed by the color print head changes, so that only a specific color ink is consumed more than other color inks. Can be solved.

In another embodiment, a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount of the printing timing between the monochrome print head and the color print head is changed stepwise are printed by both heads. The user selects the pattern with the least amount of deviation from the plurality of patterns.

Next, with the selected pattern as the median value, a plurality of patterns in which the relative deviation of the printing timing between the two heads is changed stepwise are printed, and the most deviation among the plurality of patterns is printed. Lesser patterns are selected by the user. Then, in this step, that is, with the selected pattern as a median,
Further, a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount of the printing timing by both heads is changed stepwise are printed,
The printing timing by both heads is adjusted by repeating the process of selecting the pattern with the smallest deviation amount from the plurality of patterns by the user as necessary.

Also in this case, the color printed by the color print head changes every time a plurality of patterns are printed, so that only a specific color ink is consumed more than other color inks. Can be solved.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, and a configuration in which a control program for executing a printing position adjustment function is loaded from a recording medium into the printing apparatus.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a drive mechanism of a printing apparatus. A monochrome print head 2 and a color print head 3 are fixed to a carriage 4, and the carriage 4 is printed by a guide shaft 5 arranged in a horizontal direction. It is mounted so that it can reciprocate in the row direction. The carriage 4 has a drive pulley 7 attached to a drive shaft of a carriage drive motor 6 and a guide shaft 5 attached to the drive pulley 7.
Is reciprocated on the guide shaft 5 in the print line direction, that is, in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure, by the timing belt 9 stretched between the driven pulley 8 and the driven pulley 8 arranged to face each other in the axial direction. It is configured as follows.

The monochrome print head 2 and the color print head 3 mounted in parallel on the carriage 4 print on a printing paper P placed on a platen (not shown). Is configured. That is, the monochrome print head 2 and the color print head 3 are configured to perform printing while both heads move in the direction in which the two heads are arranged.

Further, black ink and color ink are supplied from an ink cartridge 10 to the monochrome print head 2 and the color print head 3, respectively.
An ink remaining amount detecting unit 11 for detecting the remaining amount of ink stored in the ink cartridge 0 is provided.

Although not shown in detail in FIG. 1,
The ink cartridge 10 includes a cartridge in which black ink is sealed and a cartridge in which color ink is sealed, and an ink remaining amount detecting unit 11 is independently provided corresponding to these ink cartridges. The remaining ink amount detecting unit corresponding to the cartridge in which the color ink is sealed is configured to be able to independently detect the remaining amount of each ink pack (for example, yellow, cyan, and magenta).

Reference numeral 21 enclosed by a broken line denotes a printer control unit for controlling the driving mechanism 1 and the like. The printer control unit 21 further includes a monochrome head driving unit 22 and a color head driving unit 23 enclosed by broken lines. And a print control unit 25 as a print control means including a motor drive unit 24. The monochrome head drive unit 22 receives a command from the central control unit 26 composed of a microprocessor and supplies a print command signal to the monochrome print head 2, and the color head drive unit 23 similarly operates It receives a command from the central control unit 26 and supplies a print command signal to the color print head 3. Further, the motor drive unit 24 receives a command from the central control unit 26 and supplies a drive signal to the carriage drive motor 6.

An adjustment pattern control unit 27 as adjustment pattern control means surrounded by a broken line is provided by the central control unit 2.
The adjustment pattern control unit 27 is provided with an adjustment pattern storage unit 28, an adjustment pattern creation unit 29, and an adjustment repetition number determination unit 30. .

The adjustment pattern storage unit 28 stores various delay pattern data for realizing the print position adjustment function. The adjustment pattern creation unit 29 accesses the adjustment pattern storage unit 28 to Each adjustment pattern in which the relative shift amount of the printing timing, which will be described later, is changed stepwise based on the above data is created. The adjustment repetition number determination unit 30 manages the number of repetitions for sequentially inputting a pattern with a small deviation amount from a plurality of patterns printed by the monochrome print head 2 and the color print head 3 by a pattern input unit described later. Is what you do.

The adjustment pattern control unit 27 is configured so that a command signal can be input from the pattern selection unit 31. That is, in the pattern selecting section 31, a management table (not shown) for managing the printing color (used ink) by the color printing head 3 is constructed, for example, the printing color (used ink) by the color printing head 3 Each time the user enters the first selection mode and the print position adjustment mode, which can be manually selected, the color (the ink used) to be printed by the color print head 3 is changed to the second selection mode and the print position adjustment mode. A third selection mode in which the color to be printed by the color head is changed each time the pattern is printed, and a color to be printed by the color head based on ink remaining amount information from an ink remaining amount detection unit as described later. And a fourth selection mode in which is automatically selected.

On the other hand, the remaining ink amount detecting section 11 supplies the remaining ink amount information to the remaining ink amount determining section 32. The remaining ink amount determining section 32 particularly supplies the remaining amount of color ink (for example, yellow ink). , Cyan, and magenta). When the fourth selection mode is selected in the pattern selection unit 31, the remaining ink amount determination unit 3
2 sends a command to the used ink selection unit 33 to control to use the ink with a large remaining amount among the color inks.

The central control unit 26 includes an operation control unit 3
The operation controller 34 is configured to exchange data with an operation panel 41 constituting a pattern input unit. That is, the operation panel 41 includes, for example, a display 42 constituted by an LCD or the like,
A start / end button 43 for instructing the start or end of the print position adjustment operation, and the symbols (A, B, and B) displayed on the display 42 corresponding to a pattern with a small shift amount, which will be described later, in the print position adjustment mode. C,
A cursor shift button 44 for positioning the cursor at any of D, E) and a selection button 45 for selecting a symbol corresponding to the cursor position are provided.

Further, the central control unit 26 is configured to be able to exchange data with the adjustment timing shift amount storage unit 35 composed of a non-volatile memory constituting the adjustment timing shift amount storage means. The adjustment timing shift amount storage unit 35 stores data of the shift amount of the print timing based on the pattern with the small shift amount input by the operation panel 41, and stores the shift of the print timing stored here during normal printing. The printing timing of the monochrome print head 2 and the color print head 3 is adjusted based on the amount data.

On the other hand, a printer-side input / output unit 46 is connected to the central control unit 26 so that data can be exchanged with a host computer described later.

The lower half of FIG. 1 separated by a chain line shows the configuration of the host computer 51. The host computer 51 is provided with a host-side central controller 52 constituted by a microprocessor. The central controller 52 is connected to the central controller 52 via a host-side input / output unit 53 and a printer-side input / output unit 46. It is configured to exchange data with the control unit 26. A peripheral device control unit 54 is connected to the host-side central control unit 52, and a well-known display 55, keyboard 56, and mouse 57 are connected to the peripheral device control unit 54.

On the other hand, the host-side central control unit 52 includes:
An external device input / output unit 55 is connected, and the host computer 51 is connected to the communication network 59 via the external device input / output unit 55 and the server 6 on the network.
It is configured so that data is transmitted and received between 0 and 0. Further, a reading device 61 of a CD-ROM 62 is connected to the external device input / output unit 55.

The CD-ROM 62 stores a control program for causing the printing apparatus to execute the printing adjustment method according to the present invention. The control program read by the reading device 61 is transmitted to the printer via the host computer 51. It is loaded into a RAM or the like (not shown) in the central control unit 26 on the side, and a printing position adjustment operation described later is performed. The control program for executing the print position adjustment may be stored in the server 60 on the network. In this case, for example, a format in which the control program is purchased via a provider on the Internet is adopted. You.

The operation of the printing apparatus configured as described above will be described together with a printing position adjusting method described below.
First, in order to start the adjustment of the print position, the CD-R storing the control program for executing the print position adjustment is stored.
The control program is read by the reading device 61 from 0M62, and the control program is loaded into the central control unit 21 of the printer control unit 21 via the host computer 51, whereby the printing position adjustment environment is set.

In this case, as described above, when the control program for executing the print position adjustment is stored in the server 60 on the Internet, the control program is purchased through a provider and the host computer 51.

By operating the start / end button 43 for starting the printing position adjustment operation on the operation panel 41, the adjustment is made at the time of shipping the printer from the factory or in the previous printing position adjustment operation. The timing shift data stored in the timing shift amount storage unit 35 is read out to the central control unit 26. Upon receiving the timing shift data, the central control unit 26 accesses the adjustment pattern control unit 27, and uses the timing shift data from the adjustment timing shift amount storage unit 35 as a reference value to adjust the first adjustment pattern in the adjustment pattern creation unit 29. Create data.

When the data of the first adjustment pattern is created in this way, the central control unit 26
5, the data of the adjustment pattern is sent, and while the carriage is moved by the motor drive signal from the motor drive unit 24,
A plurality of patterns are printed based on print signals from the monochrome head driving unit 22 and the color head driving unit 23.

In this case, when the first selection mode is selected in the pattern selection section 31, a plurality of patterns are printed using the manually selected color ink. When the second selection mode is selected, a plurality of patterns are printed cyclically sequentially using different color inks each time the printing position adjustment mode is entered. When the third selection mode is selected, a plurality of patterns are printed using sequentially different color inks cyclically each time the first and second pattern printings are repeated. Further, when the fourth selection mode is selected, a plurality of patterns are printed using the color ink having the largest remaining ink amount among the plurality of color inks.

In this case, the color print head is yellow, cyan, magenta, purple (mixed color of cyan and magenta), green (mixed color of cyan and yellow), and orange (mixed color of magenta and yellow). If the six colors can be printed, yellow may be programmed so as not to be used from the viewpoint of visibility.

<First Embodiment of Print Position Adjustment Method>
2 (I) to 2 (IV) show a first embodiment of a print position adjusting method according to the present invention. In this printing position adjustment method, first, as shown in FIG. 2 (I), a plurality of print heads (monochrome print head 2 and color print head 3) in which the relative shift amount of the print timing is gradually changed. (5) patterns (A) to (E)) are printed simultaneously (at one time).

In the pattern shown in the drawing, the solid line is printed by the monochrome print head, and the broken line is printed by the color print head. Such a pattern
In the case of an ink jet printer, the upper half of a nozzle for a monochrome head is included in a nozzle row composed of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a direction orthogonal to the head movement direction (main scanning direction A) on the ink ejection surface of the head. And a color head can be formed by printing using the lower half nozzles.

As can be seen from the printed patterns (A) to (E) shown in FIG. 2 (I), the printing position (dashed line) of the color head relative to the printing position (solid line) of the monochrome head is the pattern (A). ) To (E), it gradually shifts to the right. Then, the user compares these patterns (A) to (E), selects the pattern with the smallest deviation amount, and inputs symbols (A to E) corresponding to the pattern on the operation panel 41. In this case, since the shift amount of the pattern (E) is the smallest, the symbol (E) is input.

On the operation panel 41, the symbols A to E are displayed on the display 42 as described above, and the cursor is moved to the lower part of each symbol A to E by sequentially pushing the cursor shift button 44. It operates to move cyclically. Therefore, the first pattern selection is completed by pushing the selection button 45 with the cursor positioned at the symbol (E).

When the above input operation is performed on the operation panel 41, the adjustment repetition number determination section 30 increments the management number by "1" and executes the second pattern printing. That is, this time, as shown in FIG. 2 (II), the input symbol pattern, that is, the selected pattern (the pattern (E) in FIG. 2 (I)) is changed to the median value (the pattern in FIG. 2 (II)). (C) pattern)
The adjustment pattern creation unit 29 accesses the adjustment pattern control unit 27 to create the patterns (A) to (E) in which the relative shift amount of the print timing by both heads is changed stepwise.

When the second adjustment pattern is created as described above, the central control unit 26 sends print data to the print control unit 25 in the same manner as the first adjustment pattern, and the second control pattern Pattern printing is performed.

Then, the user compares the patterns (A) to (E) printed as shown in FIG.
A pattern with the smallest displacement is selected, and a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input on the operation panel 41 by the same operation as described above. In this case, since the shift amount of the pattern (E) is the smallest, the symbol (E) is input.

When the symbol (E) is input on the operation panel 41, the pattern corresponding to the input symbol, that is, the selected pattern (FIG. 2 (II)) is turned on, as shown in FIG. (Pattern (E) in FIG. 2) as the median value (pattern (C) in FIG. 2 (III)), the relative shift amount of the printing timing by both heads is changed stepwise. The adjustment pattern creation unit 29 creates a pattern in the same manner. Then, when the third adjustment pattern is created, the central control unit 26 sends print data to the print control unit 25 as in the previous case, and the third pattern printing is performed by the print heads 2 and 3.

Then, the user further proceeds to FIG.
The printed patterns (A) to (E) are compared with each other to select a pattern having the smallest deviation amount, and a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input on the operation panel 41 by the same operation as described above. In this case, since the shift amount of the pattern (E) is the smallest, the symbol (E) is input.

When the symbol (E) is input on the operation panel 41, the pattern corresponding to the input symbol, that is, the selected pattern (FIG. (A) to (E), the relative shift amount of the print timing by both heads is changed stepwise with the (E) pattern in ()) as the median (pattern (C) in FIG. 2 (IV)). Is created by the adjustment pattern creating unit 29. When the fourth adjustment pattern is created in this manner, the central control unit 26 sends print data to the print control unit 25 in the same manner as the previous time, and the fourth pattern printing is performed by both print heads 2 and 3.

Then, the user compares the patterns (A) to (E) printed as shown in FIG.
A pattern with the smallest displacement is selected, and a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input on the operation panel 41 by the same operation as described above. In this case, since the shift amount of the pattern (C) is the smallest, the symbol (C) is input.
Since the pattern (C) selected here has almost no deviation, the user operates the start / end button 43 on the operation panel 41.

Then, data of the print timing shift amount corresponding to the symbol (in this case, (C) in FIG. 2 (IV)) corresponding to the finally selected pattern is written in the adjustment timing shift amount storage unit 35. Thus, the operation of adjusting the printing position of the printer is completed.

Then, in the subsequent normal printing,
The print timing by the monochrome print head 2 and the color print head 3 is adjusted based on the print timing shift amount data stored in the adjustment timing shift amount storage unit 35.

A feature of this embodiment is that, when the second selection mode is selected in the pattern selection section 31, the color to be printed by the color print head every time the above-described adjustment mode is entered. Is that it can be changed.

For example, when entering the adjustment mode at the beginning of use of the printer and performing print position adjustment, cyan is used. Thereafter, when the print position is readjusted, magenta is used. That is, for example, cyan →
The color can be changed in the order of magenta → purple → green → orange → cyan. Thus, in the second selection mode, every time the adjustment mode is entered, the color to be printed by the color print head is changed.

In the pattern selecting section 31, the third
When the selection mode is selected, FIGS. 2 (I) to 2 (IV)
The color used in the color print head is changed each time printing is performed once (for example, each time the patterns (A) to (E) are printed) in the adjustment operation described with reference to FIG. That is, the adjustment repetition number determination unit 3
Using the numerical value of the number of printing repetitions of the adjustment pattern managed at 0, control is performed so as to sequentially change the color ejected by the color print head.

According to the above-described embodiment, the color printed by the color print head changes each time the adjustment is made, so that only a specific color ink consumes more than other inks. The problem of being done can be avoided.

In the example described above, the adjustment of the printing position is completed in the fourth pattern printing (FIG. 2 (IV)). However, when the deviation of the printing position by both heads is relatively small, for example, Second pattern printing (Fig. 2 (II))
In some cases, a pattern with almost no deviation appears, and in this case, the adjustment operation ends in the second pattern printing. Conversely, if the amount of deviation of the printing position by both heads is relatively large, a pattern with almost no deviation may not appear even in the fourth pattern printing (FIG. 2 (IV)). Then, the above operation is repeated, and the adjustment operation is completed in the fifth and subsequent pattern printing.

In this case, if the color used in the conventional color printing is a specific one color, the consumption of the specific color increases, but according to the present embodiment, such a situation occurs. Is prevented.

As described above, according to this print position adjusting method, a plurality of print heads in which the relative shift amount of the print timing by both heads is changed stepwise with the pattern selected by the user as the median value. The printing timing by both heads is adjusted by repeating the process of printing the pattern and selecting the pattern with the smallest deviation amount from the plurality of patterns by the user as necessary.

That is, according to this printing position adjusting method, a pattern to be printed at the same time is printed at least twice, and a plurality of patterns to be printed at the same time after the second time are selected at the previous time. 2 (I)-(I).
As is apparent from comparison of V), a plurality of patterns printed at the same time gradually become smaller as the amount of displacement increases. That is to say, the convergence state is gradually set. That is, the shift amount in the pattern of (II) is smaller than the shift amount in the pattern of FIG.
The shift amount in the pattern (III) is smaller than the shift amount in the pattern (I), and the shift amount in the pattern (IV) is smaller than the shift amount in the pattern (III).

The pattern to be printed at the same time is printed at least twice, so that the user
The number of patterns that need to be compared to each time can be at least halved compared to the conventional method, and as a result, the user's selection operation can be made simple and easy.
That is, in the example described above, the user only needs to compare five patterns at a time.

In addition, since a plurality of patterns printed at the same time are gradually converged as the stepwise deviation amounts follow, the adjustment operation can be performed efficiently. Therefore, the adjustment work of the user can be facilitated, and at the same time, the range of the shift amount that can be adjusted can be increased, and the adjustment accuracy can be increased.

In other words, as described above, this adjustment method simply repeats the printing of several patterns and the selection operation by the user until the adjustment is completed (until a pattern with little deviation appears). Therefore, even if the range of the shift amount that can be adjusted is increased, the work of the user is not so difficult.

Therefore, even if the number of patterns finally printed increases as a result of, for example, increasing the adjustment accuracy, the adjustment is performed by repeating the printing of several patterns and the user's selection operation as described above. After all, the task of the user is not so difficult.

In other words, the user can select the best pattern easily because the number of patterns to be compared at the same time is small when selecting the best pattern. In addition, the time required for one pattern printing and the space required are small, and the adjustment may be completed in the second pattern printing. In this case, the adjustment time and the time required for the adjustment are significantly shorter than in the conventional case. The consumption of printing paper and ink can be reduced.

<Second Embodiment of Print Position Adjustment Method>
FIGS. 3 (I) to (IV) are explanatory views showing a second embodiment of the print position adjusting method according to the present invention, and show a state of a printed pattern in the same manner as described above.

The feature of this embodiment is that the relative shift amount changed in a plurality of patterns to be printed is made smaller than the relative shift amount changed in a previously printed pattern. In this embodiment, when a pattern other than the pattern located at the end of the plurality of patterns is selected by the user, the relative shift amount is reduced. Other points are the first
This is the same as the embodiment.

In the following description, the adjustment repetition number determination unit 30 shown in FIG. 1 determines the number of repetitions and controls the relative deviation amount to be sequentially adjusted. The central control unit 26 determines that a pattern other than the pattern to be selected is selected by the user in the operation state of the operation panel 41. In the case where the second embodiment of the print position adjusting method is executed, the operation of each block shown in FIG. 1 is the same as the case described in the first embodiment described above. Will be described with reference to the adjustment pattern shown in FIG.

In the second embodiment of the print position adjusting method, first, as shown in FIG. 3I, the relative shift amount of the print timing by both the monochrome head and the color head is determined stepwise. (Here, five patterns (A) to (E)) are simultaneously printed.

In this case, the relative shift amount (change pitch) to be changed stepwise is, for example, 0.6 mm.
Accordingly, the interval between the printing position of the monochrome head (solid line) and the printing position of the color head (dashed line) is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (I), the interval LA in the pattern (A)
The interval LB in the pattern (B) is larger than 0.
6 mm smaller.

Similarly, the interval in pattern (C) is 0.6 mm smaller than the interval in pattern (B), and the interval in pattern (D) is 0.6 mm smaller than the interval in pattern (C). The distance in the pattern (E) is smaller by 0.6 mm than the distance in the pattern (D).

That is, the printing position of the color head (broken line) with respect to the printing position of the monochrome head (solid line)
Becomes from (A) to (E)
It is shifted to the right at a pitch of 0.6 mm in steps.

Then, the user should select these patterns (A)
(E) are compared with each other, a pattern having the smallest deviation amount is selected, and a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input to the operation panel. In this case, since the shift amount of the pattern (E) is the smallest, the symbol (E) is input to the operation panel.

When the symbol (E) is input to the operation panel,
This time, as shown in FIG. 3 (II), the input symbol pattern, that is, the selected pattern (the pattern (E) in FIG. 2 (I)) is changed to the median value ((C) in FIG. 3 (II)). (A)-(Pattern), the relative deviation amount of the print timing by both heads was changed stepwise.
(E) The pattern is simultaneously printed. Also in this case, the relative shift amount (change pitch) that is changed stepwise is
0.6 mm.

Therefore, the printing position of the color head (broken line) with respect to the printing position of the monochrome head (solid line)
Becomes from (A) to (E)
It is shifted to the right at a pitch of 0.6 mm in steps.

Then, the user compares the patterns (A) to (E) printed as shown in FIG.
A pattern with the smallest displacement is selected, and a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input on the operation panel. in this case,
The shift amount in the pattern (C) and the shift amount in the pattern (D) are substantially the same, and the other patterns (A) and (B)
Since the displacement amount is smaller than that of (E), the symbols (C) and (D)
Is input on the operation panel. Here, the description will be made assuming that the symbol (C) is input on the operation panel.

When the symbol (C) is input, this time, FIG.
As shown in (III), the pattern corresponding to the input symbol, that is, the selected pattern (the pattern (C) in FIG. 2 (II)) is changed to the median value (the pattern (C) in FIG. 3 (III)). (A), the relative shift amount of the printing timing by both heads is changed stepwise.
(E) are simultaneously printed.

At this time, the user selects a pattern (C) other than the patterns (A) and (E) positioned at the end of the plurality of patterns (A) to (E) printed in FIG. 3 (II). Therefore, the relative shift amount is reduced. For example, it is 0.3 mm. Accordingly, in FIG. 3 (III), the printing position (dashed line) of the color head relative to the printing position (solid line) of the monochrome head is gradually increased from 0 to 0 in the pattern (A) to (E).
It is shifted to the right at a pitch of 3 mm.

Then, the user compares the patterns (A) to (E) printed as shown in FIG. 3 (III), selects the pattern with the smallest deviation amount, and inputs a symbol corresponding to the pattern on the operation panel. I do. In this case, since the shift amount of the pattern (D) is the smallest, the symbol (D) is input on the operation panel.

When the symbol (D) is input, this time, FIG.
As shown in (IV), the pattern corresponding to the input symbol, that is, the selected pattern (pattern (D) in FIG. 3 (III)) is set to the median value (pattern (C) in FIG. 3 (IV)). ), The relative shift amount of the print timing between the two heads is changed stepwise.
(E) The pattern is simultaneously printed.

At this time, the user selects the pattern (D) other than the patterns (A) and (E) positioned at the end among the plurality of patterns (A) to (E) printed in FIG. 3 (III). Therefore, the relative deviation amount is further reduced. For example, it is set to 0.15 mm.

Accordingly, the printing position of the color head (dashed line) with respect to the printing position of the monochrome head (solid line)
In FIG. 3 (IV), the pattern shifts to the right at a pitch of 0.15 mm in steps from the patterns (A) to (E).

Then, the user compares the patterns (A) to (E) printed as shown in FIG.
A pattern with the smallest displacement is selected, and a symbol corresponding to the pattern is input on the operation panel. in this case,
Since the displacement of the pattern (C) is the smallest, the symbol (C)
Is input.

The pattern (C) selected here
Is in a state in which there is almost no deviation, and the user operates the start / end button 43 in the same manner as described above to end the adjustment work.

Then, the data of the print timing shift amount corresponding to the finally selected symbol (in this case, (C) in FIG. 3 (IV)) is written in the adjustment timing shift amount storage unit 35, and thereby the printer is operated. The printing position adjustment operation is completed.

Then, in the subsequent normal printing,
Based on the print timing shift amount data stored in the adjustment timing shift amount storage unit 35 in the same manner as described above, the monochrome print head 2 and the color print head 3
Print timing is adjusted.

In the example described above, the adjustment is completed in the fourth pattern printing (FIG. 3 (IV)). However, the above operation is repeated, and the relative displacement is further reduced (for example, 0). 0.075 mm, and 0.04 mm
mm), the printing position can be adjusted with higher accuracy.

Also in the second embodiment described above, when the second selection mode is selected in the pattern selection section 31, printing is performed by the color print head every time the above-described adjustment mode is entered. The color can be changed.

In the pattern selecting section 31, the third
When the selection mode is selected, FIGS. 3 (I) to (IV)
Each time printing is performed in the adjustment operation described with reference to (for example, each time the patterns (A) to (E) are printed), the color to be used is changed.

According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to avoid the problem that only a specific color ink is consumed more than other inks.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, (1) In the embodiment described above, the printing color by the color print head is changed in the printing adjustment method as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, but the invention is not limited to this. In the print adjustment method as shown in FIG. 4, the print color by the color print head may be changed.

(2) In the above embodiment, the number of patterns printed at one time is five, but this number can be set arbitrarily. However, about 3 to 15 is desirable, and about 4 to 7 is more desirable.

(3) The color head used in the above-described embodiment has a relatively large nozzle interval, so that the line segment printed in one scan is a broken line.
A solid line can be formed by repeating unidirectional printing by feeding a minute amount of paper.

[0106]

As is apparent from the above description, the printing position adjustment method according to the present invention, the printing apparatus using the adjustment method, and the printing position adjustment control program stored in the recording medium are used to adjust the printing position. When printing an adjustment pattern, the color to be printed by the color print head is changed each time the adjustment mode for adjusting the relative shift amount of the printing timing is entered, or every time the adjustment pattern is printed after entering the adjustment mode. It is made to change.

Therefore, it is possible to avoid an uneconomical problem that only a specific color ink is consumed and the ink cartridge has to be replaced even when the other color inks have a sufficient remaining amount.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a printing apparatus according to the present invention and a configuration in which a control program for executing a printing position adjustment function is taken from a recording medium into the printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a printing position adjusting method according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a pattern printed according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a second example of the print position adjusting method according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a pattern printed according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a pattern printed by a conventional print position adjusting method.

[Description of Signs] 1 Drive mechanism 2 Monochrome print head 3 Color print head 4 Carriage 5 Guide shaft 6 Carriage drive motor 9 Timing belt 10 Ink cartridge 11 Ink remaining amount detection unit 21 Printer control unit 25 Print control unit (Print control) Means) 26 Central control unit 27 Adjustment pattern control unit (Adjustment pattern control unit) 28 Adjustment pattern storage unit 29 Adjustment pattern creation unit 30 Adjustment repetition number determination unit 31 Pattern selection unit 32 Ink remaining amount determination unit 33 Ink selection unit 34 Operation Control unit 35 Adjustment timing shift amount storage unit (Adjustment timing shift amount storage unit) 41 Operation panel (Pattern input unit) 46 Printer-side input / output unit 51 Host computer 52 Host-side central control unit 59 Communication network 60 Server (control program) Recording medium) 61 reader 62 CD-ROM (control program recording medium) P printing paper

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus which includes a monochrome print head and a color print head, and performs printing while moving both heads in the direction in which the two heads are arranged. A printing position that prints a plurality of patterns in which the amount is changed stepwise and allows the user to select the pattern with the least amount of misalignment from the plurality of patterns to adjust the relative amount of misalignment of the print timing by both heads A print position adjusting method, wherein the color to be printed by the color print head is changed every time an adjustment mode for adjusting a relative shift amount of print timing is entered. 2. A printing apparatus comprising a monochrome print head and a color print head, wherein printing is performed while both heads move in the direction in which the two heads are arranged. A plurality of patterns with the amount changed stepwise are printed, and the user is allowed to select a pattern with the smallest deviation amount from among the plurality of patterns. Print multiple patterns with the relative shift amount of the print timing changed stepwise,
A printing position adjustment method that adjusts the printing timing by both heads by repeating the process of allowing the user to select the pattern with the smallest deviation amount from the plurality of patterns as necessary. A printing position adjusting method, wherein a color to be printed by the color print head is changed each time the printing is performed. 3. A printing apparatus, comprising: a monochrome print head and a color print head, wherein printing is performed while both heads move in the direction in which the two heads are arranged. Print control means for printing a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount is changed stepwise; pattern input means for inputting, from among the plurality of printed patterns, a pattern in which the shift amount of printing by both heads is small; An adjustment timing shift amount storage unit for storing data of a print timing shift amount based on a pattern with a small print shift amount input by the pattern input unit, and an adjustment mode for adjusting a relative shift amount of the print timing every time an adjustment mode is entered. Adjusting pattern control means for controlling so as to change a color to be printed by the color print head. Printing apparatus, characterized in that. 4. A printing apparatus, comprising: a monochrome print head and a color print head, wherein printing is performed while both heads move in a direction in which the two heads are arranged. Print control means for printing a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount is changed stepwise; pattern input means for inputting, from among the plurality of printed patterns, a pattern in which the shift amount of printing by both heads is small; A command for printing a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount of the print timing by both heads is changed stepwise is given to the print control unit, with the pattern with the small shift amount input by the pattern input unit as the central value. And, among a plurality of printed patterns, a pattern having a small amount of misalignment of printing by both heads. Adjustment pattern control means for managing inputting to the force means at least once or more, and controlling to change the color printed by the color print head each time a plurality of patterns are printed; and the pattern input means. A print timing shift amount storing means for storing print timing shift amount data based on a pattern having a small shift amount input by the printer. 5. A host computer for taking in a control program for adjusting a printing position executed by the printing device, wherein the host computer takes in the control program via a communication network or controls the reading device. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control program is configured to be fetched from a recording medium that can be read through the control program. 6. A control program for adjusting a print position in a printing apparatus which is provided with a monochrome print head and a color print head, and performs printing while both heads move in the direction in which the two heads are arranged. A print control means for printing a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount of the print timing by the two heads is changed stepwise, and a step of printing the plurality of patterns from among the plurality of printed patterns. A pattern inputting means for inputting a pattern having a small print shift amount by both heads, and an adjustment timing shift amount storing means for printing data of a print timing shift amount based on the pattern having a small print shift amount input by the pattern input means. And the adjustment mode for adjusting the relative shift amount of the print timing. Readable recording medium storing a program for executing a procedure for controlling the adjustment pattern control means to vary the color to be printed by the color printing head to the printing device. 7. A control program for adjusting a printing position in a printing apparatus which is provided with a monochrome print head and a color print head, and performs printing while moving both heads in the direction in which the two heads are arranged. A print control means for printing a plurality of patterns in which the relative shift amount of the print timing by the two heads is changed stepwise, and a step of printing the plurality of patterns from among the plurality of printed patterns. A procedure of inputting a pattern with a small amount of printing deviation by both heads in the pattern input means, and a pattern with a small amount of deviation input by the pattern input means as a central value, and further, a relative deviation amount of printing timing by both heads. A command to print a plurality of patterns in which is changed stepwise is given to the print control means, and Inputting a pattern with a small amount of printing deviation by both heads from the plurality of patterns to the pattern input means at least once or more, and recording the color pattern each time a plurality of patterns are printed. A procedure for causing the adjustment pattern control means to execute control for changing a color to be printed by the head, and a data of a print timing shift amount based on a pattern with a small print shift amount input by the pattern input means to the adjustment timing shift amount storage means. A readable recording medium storing a program for causing the printing device to execute the procedure for storing. 8. The readable recording medium is a CD-R
The recording medium according to claim 6, wherein the recording medium is 0M.