JP2013111922A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

In an ink jet recording apparatus, a profile of an ink ejection amount suitable for a recording medium can be set, and friction with a recording head due to swelling of the recording medium is prevented.
A distance between sheets, which is a distance between a recording head and a recording medium, is measured (S806), and a maximum ink ejection amount is determined based on a comparison between the measured value and a specified value (S807). Then, the maximum ink ejection amount is selected from the ink ejection possible range based on the maximum ink ejection amount (S808), and the profile information when creating the recording data with the selected ink ejection amount as a setting value for the user media is selected. Create (S809). As described above, when a recording medium other than the preset recording medium is used, the range of the ink ejection possible amount is determined by the distance between the papers, so that recording is performed with the set ejection amount. Sometimes, the head and the recording medium can be prevented from rubbing.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for setting an ink ejection amount that matches ink receiving characteristics of a recording medium used in the apparatus.

  In an inkjet printer or the like, generally, in image processing, recording data is generated using a look-up table in which an ink ejection amount is determined in advance according to a recording medium used for recording, and image quality deterioration such as ink bleeding on the recording medium is caused. It does not occur. As an example of such a profile setting, several recording media that are assumed to be used for recording are set, and the ink ejection amount is set so that the ink reception amount is optimized for each of the set recording media. There is one that sets each defined profile.

  However, in an apparatus in which the type of recording medium used in this way is set in advance, when a recording medium other than the set recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as user media) is used, recording with good image quality is possible. It may not be realized. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 proposes that a plurality of ink placement patterns are recorded in advance on the user medium, and an appropriate profile is set for the user medium based on this pattern. As a result, it is possible to reduce ink bleeding and overflow on the recording medium and perform recording without image quality deterioration.

JP 2003-334934 A

  However, in the profile setting described in Patent Document 1, the maximum ink ejection amount of the recording medium is obtained from the ink bleeding and density unevenness generated in the test pattern, and the profile for user media is obtained using the maximum ejection amount. Set. For this reason, although the technique described in Patent Document 1 can suppress problems such as bleeding in the recording using the user medium, it also causes the swelling of the recording medium, which is a problem caused by the ink that has been applied. May occur.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the problem of swelling. As shown in the figure, the recording medium may be deformed due to swelling of the recording medium, and a part of the recording medium may be rubbed against the recording head. Ink 103 is ejected from the recording head 101 and landed on the recording medium 102 and absorbed by the ink absorption layer of the recording medium 102. As a result, the recording medium 102 changes from the state 102a before absorbing ink to the state 102b after absorbing ink. As a result, when the recording head 101 moves, the portion where the distance from the recording head is reduced due to deformation may be rubbed. If such rubbing occurs, the recording head may be damaged.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus that can set a parameter (profile) of an ink ejection amount suitable for a recording medium and can prevent rubbing with a recording head due to swelling of the recording medium. It is.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the recording head for ejecting ink is scanned relative to the recording medium, and the ink is ejected to the recording medium based on the recording data generated based on the data of the ink ejection amount. An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording, wherein a test pattern recording unit that discharges ink from a recording head to record a test pattern on a recording medium, and a distance that detects a distance between the recording medium on which the test pattern is recorded and the recording head Same as the detection means, the hit amount acquisition means for determining the maximum hit amount of the ink on which the test pattern is recorded based on the detected distance, and the recording medium on which the test pattern is recorded based on the determined maximum hit amount A table that creates a table to generate data for the amount of driving when using different types of recording media Characterized in that comprises a creation means.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to set an ink ejection amount table suitable for the recording medium, and it is possible to prevent rubbing with the recording head due to swelling of the recording medium.

It is a figure explaining the problem of the swelling by ink bombardment with respect to a recording medium. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer controller of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer engine 301 illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a part that mainly operates in the printer engine 301 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording head part. (A) is a figure which shows the test pattern for determining the ink placement amount based on this embodiment, (b) makes the distance between sheets measured in the said test pattern correspond to the said placement amount. FIG. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the other example of a test pattern, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the example of a display at the time of determining the amount of ink placement with respect to a user medium in the display part of the inkjet recording device which concerns on this embodiment. Similarly, (a) and (b) are diagrams showing display examples when determining the amount of ink to be applied to the user medium on the display unit of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing a profile creation process for a set-out recording medium based on a maximum driving amount in consideration of ink swelling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer controller of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The printer controller 201 receives a recording instruction and recording image data from a host device such as a personal computer, converts the received image data into binary image data that can be recorded by the printer engine, and outputs the binary image data to the printer engine. . In the printer controller 201, the CPU 203 controls the entire printer controller 201, and sequentially reads and executes control programs stored in the RAM unit 221, the ROM unit 222, or the storage device 220. This control program also includes a profile creation processing program that takes into account the swelling of the recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described later with reference to FIG. That is, the CPU 203 executes control of the network interface unit 208 and control of the operation unit 215 and the display unit 216 via the operation unit control unit 205 and the display unit control unit 206. The CPU 203 also executes control of the image processing unit 204 for converting the received image data into image formation data, control of the printer engine interface unit 214 for transferring the generated image formation data to the printer engine, and the like. To do.

  The image processing unit 204 converts the image data received from the host device into binary image data that can be recorded by the printer engine. In the image processing when converting to binary image data, the conversion is performed according to a profile corresponding to a recording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention to be described later. Specifically, a color separation table for converting RGB signal data as image data into CMYBk ink color data is created based on the maximum ink ejection amount considering the swelling of the recording medium.

  The operation unit control unit 205 exchanges information with the CPU 203 in accordance with an operation on the operation unit 215. The display unit control unit 206 outputs a display control signal to the display unit 216. The network interface unit 208 transmits / receives data to / from a host device such as a personal computer or a workstation connected via a network. Alternatively, data transmission / reception is performed when information is shared with the same type inkjet recording apparatus connected to the network. The serial communication control unit 209 controls the RTC unit 218 connected to the image forming controller ASIC 202 via the serial communication interface 218b.

  The EEPROM controller 210 generates a necessary control signal in response to a read request from the CPU 203, reads data stored in the EEPROM unit 219 in advance, and sends the read content back to the CPU 203 via the system bus bridge 223. . Further, the EEPROM controller 210 rewrites the contents of the EEPROM unit 219 in response to a write request from the CPU 203.

  The storage device control unit 211 performs control of the storage device, control for transmitting data to the storage device, and control for receiving data output from the storage device. The storage device 220 is composed of, for example, a hard disk (HDD), a magneto-optical disk, or the like, and stores image data transferred from the host device and history of past recordings. Further, a profile for the recording medium is stored, and a profile relating to user media other than the set recording medium can be stored.

  The RAM controller 212 generates necessary control signals in response to read requests and write requests from the CPU 203 and each block, and executes writing to the RAM unit 221 and reading from the RAM unit 221. When the ROM unit 222 is configured by an electrically rewritable device such as a flash memory, the ROM controller 213 generates a necessary control signal and rewrites the contents of the ROM unit 222.

  The printer engine interface unit 214 is a block that transmits and receives data between the printer controller 201 and the printer engine. The printer engine interface unit 214 sequentially reads the binary image data generated by the image processing unit 204 and stored in the RAM unit 221 via the RAM controller 211 and transfers the binary image data to the printer engine.

  The operation unit 215 includes switches that are linked to buttons for setting the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus, and outputs the state of these switches as an electrical signal. The operation unit 215 includes an online button for switching an operation mode, a menu button for instructing display of a menu screen, an up / down / left / right cross button for selecting an item from the menu screen, and an OK button for confirming a selection item. The operation unit 215 also has a stop button for instructing to stop recording, and a paper feed selection button for selecting a recording paper feeding method. The display unit 216 displays the operation state of the ink jet recording apparatus, and displays a menu screen by operating the menu button or the like of the operation unit 215.

  The printer engine 301 is a recording mechanism that records an image on a recording medium based on binary image data sent from the printer controller 201 having the above configuration.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer engine 301 shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the engine control unit 302 controls each drive block via the control units 303, 304, and 305 in the printer engine 301.

  The head control unit 303 sends a drive signal or the like to the recording head unit 306 based on the recording data to discharge ink. The motor control unit 304 includes a paper transport motor 308 that transports the recording medium, a carriage motor 307 that scans the recording head unit 306, and a head lifting motor 312 that moves the recording head unit 306 up and down to adjust the distance from the recording medium. Take control. The sensor control unit 305 is connected to the inter-paper distance detection unit 309, the ink remaining amount detection unit 310, and the cover open / close detection unit 311 and controls sensor detection of each detection unit. The encoder sensor unit 310 reads the encoder member and notifies the sensor control unit of the read information. The cover open / close detection unit 311 detects the opening / closing of the ink tank cover and the cover on the upper part of the carriage unit, and notifies the sensor control unit.

  The inter-paper distance detection unit 309 detects the distance between the recording head unit 306 and the recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as “inter-paper distance”) and notifies the detected information about the inter-paper distance.

  The sensor control unit 305 is connected to the engine control unit 302 similarly to the head control unit 303 and the motor control unit 304 described above, and the engine control unit 302 stores data and information detected by each sensor in the sensor control unit 305. Send to the printer controller.

  4A is a perspective view showing a part that mainly operates in the printer engine 301 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recording head portion.

  4A, the operation mechanism of the printer engine includes a carriage 401, a paper feed roller 402, a paper discharge roller 403, and an encoder member 404. In addition, a drive mechanism (not shown) for driving the carriage and paper feed / discharge rollers and a drive mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering the recording head are provided.

  3 is detachably mounted on the carriage 401, and the recording head 405 can scan the recording medium by moving the carriage 401. The carriage 401 is provided with an encoder sensor 406 for reading the encoder member 404. A carriage driving mechanism for driving the carriage includes a motor and a timing belt.

  The recording medium 407 of this embodiment is a roll-shaped recording medium, and is fixed by a roll paper spooler 408 and fed to the scanning area of the recording head 405 in accordance with the recording operation. Note that the recording medium does not need to be in a roll shape, and for example, a cut sheet of a predetermined size may be used.

  The paper feed drive mechanism that drives the paper feed / discharge rollers has two or more motors, rollers, timing belts, and sensors that detect the number of rotations of the rollers. Media is fed and discharged. Here, the printer engine control unit calculates the paper feed length of the paper from the detection result such as the number of rotations of the roller detected by each sensor.

  The drive mechanism that raises and lowers the recording head includes a motor and a belt, and adjusts the inter-paper distance by raising and lowering the recording head under the control of the printer engine control unit.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the carriage 401 is provided with a recording head 405, an encoder sensor 406, and an inter-paper distance detection unit 409. Further, as shown in the figure, the recording head 405 has a nozzle row 410 in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged, and cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black ( Four nozzle rows 401 for ejecting Bk) ink are provided.

  The inter-paper distance detection unit 409 shown in FIG. 4B is a space between the nozzle arrangement surface, which is the surface on which the detection unit 409 of the recording head 405 is provided, and the recording medium 407 facing the nozzle arrangement surface. Can be detected (distance between sheets). The inter-paper distance detection unit 409 includes, for example, a laser type sensor. That is, a recording medium that is an object is irradiated with a laser, and a part of the reflected light forms a spot image on the optical position detection element via the light receiving lens. Then, the inter-paper distance can be obtained in accordance with the difference in spot position when measuring with respect to a predetermined reference spot position. Of course, the configuration and method for measuring the inter-paper distance are not limited to the above example. For example, an ultrasonic sensor or the like may be used as the inter-paper distance detection unit. When an ultrasonic sensor is used, the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the sensor head, the ultrasonic wave reflected from the object is received again by the sensor head, and the time from the transmission of the sound wave to the reception is measured. The position of the object can be detected and the distance can be calculated.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a test pattern for determining the ink ejection amount according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating the distance between papers measured in the test pattern. It is a figure shown corresponding to quantity.

  As will be described later with reference to FIG. 9, this test pattern is recorded on the user medium when a user medium that is a recording medium other than the recording medium set in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment is used. As shown in FIG. 5A, the test pattern is recorded for each color of ink used in the ink jet recording apparatus, and the driving amount (recording duty) is 80%, 100%, 120%, 140%, It consists of 160%, 180% and 200% patches. Then, patches of the respective driving amounts are recorded in the recording mode at the time of recording. FIG. 5A shows an example of a two-pass printing mode in which each patch area is printed by two scans and each has a driving amount. Here, the ink ejection amount is defined as the ink amount (also referred to as the ejection amount or recording duty) that is ejected into the unit area of the recording medium. More specifically, the amount of ink that is applied once to all of the pixels constituting the unit area is 100%, and the amount of ink that is applied twice to all of the pixels is 200%. is there.

  The inter-paper distance (displacement amount) for each patch of the test pattern shown in FIG. 5B is an example measured for each patch of cyan (C) ink. This example shows that the allowable fluctuation range is exceeded when the driving amount is 160% or more. That is, there is a possibility that the distance between the sheets exceeds a predetermined amount and the recording head is rubbed. From this result, it is determined that the maximum possible amount of ink for C ink is 140%. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 9, a lookup table (profile) for user media that defines the amount of ink for each color is created based on this maximum ink amount.

  Here, the distance between sheets of the recording medium where the ink is not applied and the recording head is used as a reference, and the difference from the reference is obtained as a change in the distance between sheets. The size of each patch is preferably a size that maximizes the width of the recording medium so that the area of each patch becomes as large as possible because the deformation due to swelling increases as the patch area increases. On the other hand, it may be uneconomical to use a plurality of recording media for pattern recording. Therefore, the size of the patch can be determined in accordance with the extent of the maximum deformation of the recording medium due to swelling that can occur during actual recording in the target apparatus.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing other examples of test patterns, respectively. Among these, FIG. 6A shows an example in which a test pattern for each of a plurality of recording modes for one ink color is recorded on one user medium. Specifically, a test pattern is recorded for each number of passes, which is the number of scans that completes recording of a predetermined area. According to this test pattern, the difference in swelling between the recording modes can be known and compared. Further, deformation (displacement) due to swelling of the recording medium changes with the passage of time, and basically increases with the passage of time. If the number of passes during recording is large, the amount of deformation increases due to the longer recording time. Therefore, by making it possible to form a test pattern for each number of passes as described above, implantation that takes into account the effects of time changes The amount can be set.

  In FIG. 6B, the patch arrangement direction for each test pattern driving amount is set as the recording medium conveyance direction, and a patch with a small driving amount can be recorded first. In this case, the hit amount is determined by detecting the inter-paper distance sequentially from the previously recorded patch with the minimum print amount, and if the measured inter-paper distance exceeds the specified value, the hit amount is increased for the ink color thereafter. You can choose not to record any patches. In the example shown in FIG. 6B, the M (magenta) ink ejection amount is 160%, the BK (black) ink is 180%, which exceeds the specified value, and the patch of the next ejection amount is not recorded. . As a result, the maximum possible amount of ink for M ink is 140%, and 160% for BK ink is the maximum amount that can be applied. The inks of other colors are determined to be specified values by detecting the inter-paper distance with an ejection amount of 200%, and the maximum ejection amount of ink is calculated.

  In the above example, the inter-paper distance in the test pattern is measured in the horizontal direction with respect to the conveyance direction of the user media. However, the inter-paper distance is measured in the vertical direction with respect to the test pattern. You may do it. Since it is possible to measure the inter-paper distance in the vertical direction, it is possible to obtain an assumed result that takes into account the effect of swelling caused by the eyes of the paper fibers of the user media. As described above, by allowing a plurality of types of test patterns to be recorded, it is possible to widen the selection range of the ink ejection amount with respect to user media that are not set.

  Also, when measuring the distance between papers on the test pattern, basically, the head is positioned at a position as far as possible from the recording medium so that the rubbing of the recording head is less than the distance between the papers. What happens during measurement can be reduced. However, when the position of the recording head cannot be greatly separated from the recording medium, a test pattern as shown in FIG. 6B is recorded. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink used and prevent the recording head from rubbing during test pattern recording and paper-to-paper measurement for determining the amount of shot.

  In the above example, the maximum amount that can be ejected is calculated by setting a predetermined value for the amount of change caused by ink ejection based on the inter-paper distance when ink is not ejected. However, instead of the amount of change, a predetermined value may be set for the distance between the recording head unit and the recording medium to detect the maximum ink ejection amount. Alternatively, the maximum possible ink ejection amount may be detected based on both predetermined values.

  In addition, test patterns corresponding to the ink color and the number of passes may be recorded in a plurality of stages. Further, although not shown in the example, the test pattern generation size may be set. Furthermore, in the above example, the test pattern is formed with the number of passes corresponding to the recording mode for each ink color, or the test pattern is recorded for each number of passes in all the recording modes. It is also possible to form in colors and quaternary colors.

  In addition, when the color or the number of passes having a large influence is known regardless of the media by the prior evaluation, a test pattern having a large influence may be generated to measure the inter-paper distance.

  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B show display examples when determining the amount of ink to be ejected to the user medium on the display unit of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG.

  FIG. 7A shows a display example on the display unit when setting a prescribed value (predetermined value) for detecting the distance between sheets to be performed when determining the amount of ink to be ejected. Specifically, a selection screen is displayed for selecting whether the specified value is automatically set or whether the user sets the custom value.

  In the case of automatic setting, the recording head is lifted away from the recording medium as far as possible, and the permissible fluctuation amount is set to 50% by defining the distance between the sheets to be the largest. When custom setting is selected, a screen for setting a specified value for the distance between the print head unit and the recording medium is displayed as a specified value for calculating the maximum ink ejection amount, and the specified value is input to the user from the operation unit. Prompt. Next, a screen for inputting a specified value of the amount of change due to the ejection is displayed from the reference surface (the state where there is no ink ejection) to prompt the user to input the defined value.

  FIG. 7B shows a display example for setting the recording mode of the test pattern to be recorded when determining the ink ejection amount. As shown in the figure, the test pattern is recorded for all the recording modes that can be selected by the user for the recording medium and can be executed by the recording apparatus, or only for the recording mode that the user intends to use. Displays a screen for selecting whether to perform recording. As a similar display example, as shown in FIG. 6B, the recording direction of the test pattern is set as the recording medium conveyance direction, and it is possible to select recording from a pattern with a small amount of ink applied first. is there.

  FIG. 8A is a diagram for selecting a method for determining a driving amount when actually recording on a recording medium using the determined maximum driving amount when determining a driving amount for a user medium that is not set. A display example is shown. First, a selection screen is displayed for selecting whether to automatically set the amount of ink for each ink color obtained by detecting the inter-paper distance or to set it in a custom manner. For example, when the automatic setting is selected, the maximum gamut can be ensured by setting the maximum printable amount. On the other hand, when the custom setting is selected, a display according to the setting corresponding to the lowest maximum printable amount among the ink colors or the individual setting for each ink color is performed. That is, a display that can be set is performed by inputting a value within the range from the settable driving amount range displayed by the user. In this embodiment, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 9, a color separation table (profile) is created based on the maximum hit amount of each ink color determined in this way.

  FIG. 8B shows a display example for selecting whether or not the profile created based on the driving amount determined for the user media outside the setting is stored in the storage device in the ink jet recording apparatus. . If a profile is created for user media that is not set, and the same recording medium may be used afterwards, it is not necessary to record a test pattern or detect a distance between sheets again. For this purpose, a screen for selecting whether to store the profile is displayed. When selection is made to store, a selection screen for displaying whether the setting value is stored in an area for individual users or in an area for all users is displayed so that the setting value can be discriminated later by the user. Then, a display for notifying that the profile has been created and stored in the selected area is performed.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a profile creation process for a set-out recording medium based on the maximum driving amount in consideration of ink swelling according to the present embodiment described above. This process is executed by the CPU 203 according to a predetermined program.

  This process is a process that is performed when user media that is a recording medium that is not initially registered in the inkjet recording apparatus is used. Note that the storage device 220 of the ink jet recording apparatus stores profile information for user media outside the settings registered by the user in the past. The profile information includes a setting value for the ink ejection amount for each ink color, a setting range for the ink ejection amount for each ink color, a setting value for a specified value used to calculate the ink ejection amount possible range, and a setting registered by the user. Contains names for external user media.

  First, in step S801, it is confirmed whether or not profile information for user media outside the setting is stored in the storage device 220 of the ink jet recording apparatus. If stored, the process proceeds to step S802. If not stored, the process proceeds to step S803.

  In step S802, a list of stored profile information is displayed on the display unit 216. On the other hand, the user confirms whether there is profile information for user media outside the setting specified by the user in the stored list of profile information. If profile information exists, the name of the profile to be used is selected via the operation unit 215. If there is this selection input, the process proceeds to step S808. On the other hand, when there is no profile information, the user selects no profile information via the operation unit 215. If there is this selection input, the process proceeds to step S803.

  In step S803, setting for test pattern recording for setting the amount of ink to be applied to a user medium that is not set is performed. Specifically, a list of test pattern recording methods stored in the ROM unit 222 shown in FIG. 7B is displayed on the display unit 216. The user selects one method from the list displayed on the display unit via the operation unit 215. In response to this selection input, the recording method of the selected test pattern is stored in the RAM unit, and the process proceeds to step S804.

  In step S804, a specified value (predetermined value) used for comparison and determination is set for the measured value of the distance between the recording head and the recording medium. That is, the display for setting the specified value shown in FIG. On the other hand, the user sets and inputs a specified value via the operation unit 215 for the display displayed on the display unit 216. In response to this input, the set specified value is stored in the storage device 220, and the process proceeds to step S805.

  In step S805, a test pattern corresponding to the recording method set in step S803 is recorded on the user medium. Specifically, the image data of the test pattern stored in the RAM unit 221 is developed from the ROM unit 220 to the RAM unit 221 and converted into recording data by the image processing unit 204. Then, the print data is sent to the print engine control unit 302 via the engine interface unit 214. The print engine control unit 302 performs drive control by sending signals to the head control unit 303, the motor control unit 304, and the sensor control unit 305 based on the recording data, and records a test pattern.

  In step S806, the distance between sheets is detected on the test pattern recorded in step S805. Specifically, the printer engine control unit 302 performs drive control by sending control signals to the head control unit 303, the motor control unit 304, and the sensor control unit 305, and detects the inter-paper distance along the test pattern recorded on the recording medium. The unit 409 is scanned. As a result, the distance between sheets of the test pattern is detected, and the detected measurement value is sent to the printer engine control unit through the sensor control unit. The printer engine control unit notifies the CPU 203 that the measurement value data has been sent, and sends the measurement value data to the storage device. The storage device stores the measurement value data. At the same time, the carriage position information data from the encoder sensor is similarly sent to and stored in the storage device, and the process proceeds to step S807.

  In step S807, a comparison determination between the measurement value detected in step S806 and the predetermined value set in step S804 is performed. That is, it is determined whether or not the measured value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the maximum possible ink ejection amount is obtained, and the ink ejection possible range is calculated. In other words, the CPU 203 compares the measured value of the inter-paper distance stored in the storage device 220 with a predetermined value of the set inter-paper distance, and based on the carriage position information, the test pattern ink ejection amount It is discriminated at what percentage the value of becomes a predetermined value or more. Next, the maximum possible ink ejection amount is calculated from the determined result to determine the possible ink ejection amount range, and is stored in the storage device. The above processing is performed for each ink color.

  Next, in step S808, the maximum ink ejection amount is acquired from the ink ejection amount possible range of each ink color stored in the storage device. Specifically, the display unit shows a possible range for the amount of ink for each ink color stored in the storage device (FIG. 8A), and displays for the user to determine the amount of ink to be set. On the other hand, the user checks the displayed driving amount possible range, selects the setting of the driving amount via the operation unit, and performs input. If there is this selection input (acquisition amount acquisition), it will progress to step S809.

  In step S809, profile information for creating print data is created using the selected ink ejection amount as a setting value for the user media. In this embodiment, as described in Patent Document 1, among the color separation tables corresponding to the types of recording media already set in the apparatus, the maximum hit amount of each ink color selected in step S808. Select the table with the two maximum implantation amounts closest to. Then, the color separation table of this step is created by interpolating the two table values. Of course, the creation of the table is not limited to this form. Under the condition that the maximum driving amount obtained in step S808 is set as the upper limit value of the driving amount, a patch may be recorded in the same manner as normal table generation, and the table may be generated based on the color measurement result.

  Next, in step S810, the created profile information for the user media outside the setting is used only once, or when the same type of user media outside the setting is used, the setting value can be used again in the storage device. Select whether to register. The selection of whether or not profile information is registered is displayed on the display unit (FIG. 8B). On the other hand, the user selects whether or not to register the profile information in the storage device of the inkjet recording apparatus via the operation unit. If there is a selection input for registration, the process proceeds to step S811. If it is selected not to register, this process is terminated.

  In step S811, the display unit displays the registered name of the profile information so as to be input (FIG. 8B). On the other hand, the user inputs the name of profile information to be registered in the storage device from the operation unit. After registering the profile information in the storage device with the input name, the CPU ends this process.

  As described above, when a recording medium other than the preset recording medium is used, the range of ink ejection amount to the user medium is calculated by the method using the detection of the inter-paper distance, and the profile is created. I do. In this way, when determining the possible range of the amount of ink to be applied, it is not necessary for the user to visually check or read an image formed by the image reading device and compare it with a normal image, and it is easier to apply ink to the user media. It becomes possible to set the driving amount. In addition, since the distance between the head and the recording medium is detected, and the range of the amount of ink that can be ejected is determined by the distance between the paper, the recording head and the recording medium are rubbed when recording is performed with the set amount of ejection. Can be prevented.

(Other embodiments)
The above-described embodiment relates to a so-called serial type recording apparatus that performs recording by scanning a recording head with respect to a recording medium. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The present invention can also be applied to a full-line type recording apparatus in which nozzles are arranged over the width of a recording medium to be conveyed and ink is ejected from a recording head fixedly provided to the recording medium to be conveyed. . As described above, in a serial or full line type apparatus that performs recording by scanning the recording head relative to the recording medium, the distance between sheets in the test pattern is measured by moving the recording head or the recording medium. be able to.

101, 405 Printhead 201 Printer controller 203 CPU
204 Image processing unit 215 Operation unit 216 Display unit 220 Storage device 221 RAM unit 222 ROM unit 301 Printer engine 306 Head unit 309, 409 Inter-paper distance detection unit

Claims (5)

Ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording by scanning a recording head for ejecting ink relative to a recording medium, and ejecting ink onto the recording medium based on recording data generated based on data of the ink ejection amount Because
Test pattern recording means for recording a test pattern on a recording medium by discharging ink from the recording head;
Distance detecting means for detecting the distance between the recording medium on which the test pattern is recorded and the recording head;
Based on the detected distance, the hit amount acquisition means for obtaining the maximum hit amount of the ink on which the test pattern is recorded;
A table creating means for creating a table for generating driving amount data when a recording medium of the same type as the recording medium recording the test pattern is used for recording based on the determined maximum driving amount;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   The recording medium for recording the test pattern is a recording medium of a different type from a recording medium set in advance as a recording medium to be used in the ink jet recording apparatus, and is specified by a user. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the created table.   4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test pattern recording unit records the test pattern in a recording mode that can be executed by the ink jet recording apparatus.   The driving amount acquisition means has a determination means for determining whether the distance detected by the distance detection means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and when the determination means determines that the detected distance is smaller than a predetermined value, The test pattern recording means records a test pattern in which the driving amount is larger than the detected test pattern, and when the determining means determines that the detected distance is a predetermined value or more, 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving amount acquisition unit obtains a maximum driving amount based on a distance related to the determination.

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