JP2021020384A - Correction value setting method, recording method, and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct a landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in a sub-scanning direction. A correction value setting method includes a support portion 23 that supports a medium 1, a head 13 having a plurality of nozzles, and a main scanning portion 10 that moves the head 13 relative to the support portion 23 in the main scanning direction. The correction value of the recording device 100 including the sub-scanning unit 20 for moving at least one of the head 13 and the support unit 23 so that the relative positions of the head 13 and the support unit 23 change in the sub-scanning direction is set. A correction value setting method, which is a recording step of recording a test pattern 90 by ejecting droplets from a nozzle, an acquisition step of acquiring a correction value based on the test pattern 90 recorded on the medium 1, and a correction value. In the test pattern 90, which has a setting step of setting Will be done. [Selection diagram] Fig. 6

Description

The present invention relates to a correction value setting method, a recording method, and a recording device.

Conventionally, an inkjet recording device has been known in which a head for ejecting ink is reciprocated in the main scanning direction, which is the width direction of a medium, to record. In Patent Document 1, a sample pattern is printed in order to correct a landing position deviation in the main scanning direction in a recording device that carries a medium on a support portion that supports the medium and records the printed error. A print control method for controlling the reciprocating printing process based on the above is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-35101

Some recording devices carry a medium together with a support unit for recording. In this recording device, since the relative position between the head and the support portion changes in the sub-scanning direction in which the medium is conveyed, there is a possibility that a different degree of landing position deviation may occur for each of a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, it is desired to provide a correction value setting method for correcting the landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction to improve the quality of the recorded image.

The correction value setting method is mainly to execute a main scan in which a support portion that supports the medium, a head having a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle train axis, and the head are moved relative to the support portion in the main scanning direction. Sub-scanning that executes sub-scanning by moving at least one of the head and the support so that the relative positions of the head and the support change in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the scanning direction with the main scanning direction. A correction value setting method for setting a correction value of a recording device including a unit, wherein the test pattern is recorded by repeating the main scan and the sub scan and ejecting droplets from the nozzle. The recording step includes an acquisition step of acquiring a correction value based on the test pattern recorded on the medium and a setting step of setting the correction value as a correction value used in the main recording. The test pattern is characterized in that a plurality of patches for detecting the landing position shift of the droplets are arranged in the sub-scanning direction.

In the above correction value setting method, it is desirable that a plurality of the patches are arranged in the main scanning direction in the test pattern recorded in the recording step.

In the above correction value setting method, in the acquisition step, it is preferable to calculate the correction value corresponding to the region between the patches based on the correction value acquired for each patch.

The recording method is based on the main recording data generation step of generating the main recording data for executing the main recording by using the correction value set by the correction value setting method described above, and the main recording data. It is characterized by having a main recording step of main recording on a medium.

In the above recording method, in the present recording data generation step, it is preferable to change the pulse applied to the head based on the correction value.

In the above recording method, in the present recording data generation step, it is desirable to change the landing position of the droplet ejected from the nozzle on the present recording data based on the correction value.

The recording device includes a support portion that supports the medium, a head having a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle train axis, and a main scanning unit that executes a main scan that moves the head relative to the support portion in the main scanning direction. And a sub-scanning unit that executes a sub-scanning that moves at least one of the head and the support portion so that the relative positions of the head and the support portion change in the sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction. A recording device including a control unit, wherein the control unit repeats the main scan and the sub scan, discharges droplets from the nozzle to record a test pattern, and is recorded on the medium. A correction value is acquired based on the test pattern, the correction value is set as a correction value used in this recording, and the test pattern is used to detect a displacement of the landing position of the droplets ejected from the nozzle. A plurality of patches are arranged in the sub-scanning direction.

The perspective view of the recording apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. A side view showing an internal configuration of a recording device. A block diagram showing the electrical connection of a recording device. A flowchart illustrating a recording method including a correction value setting method. The figure which exemplifies the patch arranged in a test pattern. The figure which illustrates the positional relationship between the test pattern in which a patch is arranged, and the support part. The figure which shows an example of the patch recorded on the medium. The flowchart explaining the process to execute in this record data generation process. The figure explaining the pulse applied to the piezoelectric element corresponding to each nozzle of a head. The figure which shows an example of the matrix-like pixel data generated by a halftone process. The figure which shows an example of the pixel data after the correction processing which concerns on Embodiment 2.

1. 1. Embodiment 1
1-1. Schematic configuration of the recording device FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the recording device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the recording device. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the recording device. In the coordinates added to the drawing, both directions along the Z axis are vertical and the arrow direction is "up", both directions along the X axis are left and right, the arrow direction is "right", and both directions along the Y axis are. It is the front-back direction and the arrow direction is "front". Further, the main scanning direction corresponds to the left-right direction, and the sub-scanning direction corresponds to the front-back direction.

The recording device 100 is an inkjet printer that ejects ink as droplets onto the medium 1 and records a desired image. The recording performed by the recording device 100 is performed based on, for example, image data received from an external device 80 such as a personal computer or a digital camera connected to the recording device 100. As the medium 1, for example, various materials such as cloth, which is a material for T-shirts, paper, vinyl chloride resin, and the like can be used.

The recording device 100 is an operation for operating the head 13 that records on the medium 1, the main scanning unit 10 that reciprocates the head in the main scanning direction, the sub-scanning unit 20 that conveys the medium 1 in the device, and the recording device 100. A unit 40, a control unit 60 that controls the overall operation of the recording device 100, and the like are provided.

The sub-scanning unit 20 executes sub-scanning by moving at least one of the head 13 and the support unit 23 so that the relative positions of the head 13 and the support unit 23 change in the sub-scanning direction. The sub-scanning unit 20 includes a transport base 21 extending in the front-rear direction of the recording device 100, a transport rail 22 extending in the front-rear direction inside the transport base 21, and a support portion 23 for supporting the medium 1. .. Further, the sub-scanning unit 20 includes a transport motor 24 as a drive source when the support portion 23 is moved in the front-rear direction along the transport rail 22. That is, the sub-scanning unit 20 of the present embodiment moves relative to the sub-scanning direction, which is the front-rear direction, by moving the support unit 23 with respect to the head 13.

The main scanning unit 10 executes a main scanning that moves the head 13 relative to the supporting unit 23 in the main scanning direction. The main scanning unit 10 includes a guide shaft 11 extending in the left-right direction intersecting the front-rear direction, and a carriage 12 supported in a slidable state with the guide shaft 11. Further, the main scanning unit 10 includes a carriage motor 14 as a drive source for reciprocating the carriage 12 holding the head 13 along the left-right direction which is the longitudinal direction of the guide shaft 11. That is, the main scanning unit 10 of the present embodiment moves relative to the main scanning direction, which is the left-right direction, by moving the head 13 with respect to the support unit 23.

The head 13 has, for example, a plurality of nozzles for ejecting color inks of cyan ink C, magenta ink M, yellow ink Y, and black ink K, and white ink W for forming a base. A plurality of nozzles corresponding to each ink are arranged on the nozzle row axis to form a nozzle row for each ink color. The nozzle row axis of this embodiment corresponds to the Y axis. Ink is supplied to each nozzle row from an ink holding unit 15 including an ink cartridge and an ink tank. The head 13 records on the medium 1 by ejecting ink as droplets onto the medium 1 under the control of the control unit 60.

The piezo method is used as the method for ejecting droplets. In the piezo method, a pulse is applied to the piezoelectric element that presses the pressure chamber corresponding to each nozzle, so that pressure is applied to the ink stored in the pressure chamber, and droplets are ejected from the nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber. It is a method.
The white ink W is an ink for forming a base, and is used to form a base in a region where an image having a desired color is formed without being affected by the color of the medium 1. The white ink W is also used as an image forming ink when forming a white image. Further, the number and types of the above-mentioned inks are examples, and are not limited thereto.

The operation unit 40 is a touch panel provided with a display unit and an input unit as a human interface, and gives instructions to the control unit 60 and displays information necessary for operating the recording device 100.

Next, the electrical configuration of the recording device 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 60 is provided with a CPU 66 that controls the entire recording device 100. The CPU 66 is connected to a ROM 62 that stores various control programs and the like executed by the CPU 66 and a RAM 63 that can temporarily store data via the system bus 61.

Further, the CPU 66 is connected to the head driving unit 64 for driving the head 13 via the system bus 61. Further, the CPU 66 is connected to the motor drive unit 65 via the system bus 61. The motor drive unit 65 is connected to a carriage motor 14 for moving the carriage 12 on which the head 13 is held and a transfer motor 24 for moving the support portion 23 on which the medium 1 is supported. Further, the CPU 66 is connected to the input / output unit 68 via the system bus 61. The input / output unit 68 is connected to the reading device 70 and the external device 80.

The control unit 60 includes a program provided in advance by the CPU 66, an instruction from the operation unit 40, generation of recorded data based on image data received from the external device 80, a head 13, a carriage motor 14, and a transfer motor according to the recorded data. 24 drive control and the like are performed. By this drive control, the recording device 100 repeats a sub-scanning in which the medium 1 is moved in the front-rear direction and a main scanning in which the head 13 is moved in the left-right direction while ejecting ink from each nozzle into droplets. Is recorded on the medium 1.
In the recording device 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 23 is positioned in front of the recording device 100, the medium 1 is set, and the support portion 23 is after the recording device 100 shown by the broken line in FIG. After moving to the recording start position on the side, recording is started.

The reading device 70 is a general term for devices for reading the test pattern 90 recorded on the medium 1 described later. The reading device 70 is, for example, a scanner or a camera that optically reads the test pattern 90 to generate image data. The reading device 70 may have a configuration provided in the recording device 100.

In the present embodiment, the recording device 100 that performs the main scan by moving the head 13 with respect to the support portion 23 is illustrated, but the support portion 23 moves with respect to the head 13, or the head 13 and the support portion. It may be a recording device in which both of the 23 are moved to perform the main scan.
Further, although the recording device 100 that performs sub-scanning by moving the support portion 23 with respect to the head 13 is illustrated, the head 13 moves with respect to the support portion 23, and both the head 13 and the support portion 23 move. It may be a recording device that performs sub-scanning.
Further, the head 13 of the present embodiment has been described as ejecting droplets from the nozzle by a piezo method, but it is a method of generating bubbles in the nozzle using a heating element and ejecting the droplets by the bubbles. There may be.

1-2. Recording Method FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a recording method including a correction value setting method. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating patches arranged in the test pattern. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the test pattern in which the patch is arranged and the support portion. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a patch recorded on a medium. The correction value setting method corresponds to steps S101 to S104 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the recording device 100 in which the support portion 23 that supports the medium 1 moves relative to the head 13 in the sub-scanning direction, the nozzle surface on which the nozzle of the head 13 is formed depends on the processing accuracy and assembly accuracy of each member. The distance between the and the support portion 23 may change in the sub-scanning direction. As a result, the landing position of the droplets ejected from the nozzles may shift, and the recording quality may deteriorate. The correction value setting method and the recording method for correcting the landing position deviation and improving the recording quality will be described below.

Step S101 is a recording step of recording the test pattern 90 by repeating the main scan and the sub scan and ejecting droplets from the nozzles. As shown in FIG. 6, in the test pattern 90, a plurality of patches 91 for detecting the landing position shift of the droplet are arranged in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. The recording area 2 of the support portion 23 that supports the medium 1 is divided into 49, for example, 7 × 7 in a plan view. In the recording area 2, X1 to X7 and Y1 to 7Y for representing the position of the divided area 3 in which the recording area 2 is divided are described. In the following description, when each division region 3 is specified, the combination of X1 to X7 and Y1 to 7Y is described as, for example, "division region X1Y1".

As shown in FIG. 5, the patch 91 is composed of a first ruled line 91a recorded in the second main scan and recorded in the first main scan, and a second ruled line 91b recorded in the second main scan. It is composed. That is, the patch 91 is recorded by bidirectional printing. The first ruled line 91a and the second ruled line 91b are ruled lines extending in the sub-scanning direction, and seven ruled lines are arranged at equal intervals in the main scanning direction. The interval between the first ruled lines 91a is set to be slightly narrower than the interval between the second ruled lines 91b. One end of the first ruled line 91a arranged at the center and one end of the second ruled line 91b arranged at the center coincide with each other in the main scanning direction. That is, the first ruled line 91a and the second ruled line 91b are arranged so that the amount of deviation in the main scanning direction increases toward both ends. Further, in the upper part of the seven ruled lines of the second ruled line 91b, numerical values of -3 to +3 representing the correction value are shown. In this embodiment, the patch 91 for obtaining the correction value of 7 steps from -3 to +3 is illustrated, but the patch for obtaining the correction value of 2 to 6 steps and the patch for obtaining the correction value of 8 steps or more are used. You may.

As shown in FIG. 6, such a patch 91 is a test pattern 90 arranged at equal intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the recording area 2. In the present embodiment, the patches 91 are arranged at nine locations of the divided areas X1Y1, X4Y1, X7Y1, X1Y4, X4Y4, X7Y4, X1Y7, X4Y7, and X7Y7, including the four corners and the center of the 49-divided recording area 2. There is. The control unit 60 repeats the main scan and the sub scan, and ejects droplets from the nozzles to record the test pattern 90 on the medium 1. The number of division areas 3 in the recording area 2 and the position of the division area 3 in which the patch 91 is arranged are examples, and are not limited thereto.

Step S102 is an acquisition step of acquiring a correction value based on the test pattern 90 recorded on the medium 1. The reading device 70 reads each patch 91 recorded in each divided area X1Y1, X4Y1, X7Y1, X1Y4, X4Y4, X7Y4, X1Y7, X4Y7, X7Y7 of the medium 1, and the image data of each patch 91 read and each patch. The position data of the divided area 3 in which 91 is recorded is transmitted to the control unit 60. The control unit 60 acquires the correction value corresponding to each division region 3 based on the image data of each patch 91 of the test pattern 90 recorded on the medium 1. FIG. 7 is an example of the patch 91 recorded on the medium 1. In the case of FIG. 7, “+2”, which is a position where one end of the first ruled line 91a and one end of the second ruled line 91b coincide with each other, is acquired as a correction value.
In the present embodiment, it has been explained that the correction value is acquired by the control unit 60 based on the image data read by the reading device 70, but the user visually reads each patch 91 and reads the correction value. The correction value may be input from the operation unit 40.

In the acquisition step, the correction value corresponding to the area between the patches 91 is calculated based on the correction value acquired for each patch 91. The control unit 60 interpolates and calculates the correction values corresponding to the division areas X1Y2, X1Y3, X1Y5, and X1Y6 from the correction values of the division areas X1Y1, X1Y4, and X1Y7, for example. Further, the control unit 60 interpolates, for example, the correction values corresponding to the division areas X2Y2, X3Y2, X5Y2, X6Y2 from the correction values of the interpolation-calculated division area X1Y2 and the similarly interpolation-calculated division area X4Y2, X7Y2. To do. Similarly, the control unit 60 interpolates and calculates the correction values corresponding to the other division areas 3, and acquires the correction values corresponding to all the division areas 3.
Note that the test pattern 90 in which the patches 91 are arranged in all the divided areas 3 may be used to acquire correction values corresponding to all the divided areas 3 from each patch 91.
Further, although it has been explained that the patch 91 is arranged in the divided area 3, all the patches 91 are arranged from these patches 91 by using the test pattern 90 in which the patch 91 is arranged at the four corners of the recording area 2 and the intersection of the divided areas 3. The correction value corresponding to the division region 3 may be obtained by interpolation calculation.

Step S103 is a setting step of setting the correction value as the correction value used in this recording. The control unit 60 generates a correction value table based on the correction value acquired in step S102, and stores it in a predetermined memory such as a RAM 63.

Step S104 is a main recording data generation step of generating recorded data for executing the main recording. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed in the recorded data generation step. The main recorded data generation step of step S104 executed by the control unit 60 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step S201 is a step of acquiring image data to be recorded in this recording. For example, the user visually recognizes the user interface screen displayed on the operation unit 40, and arbitrarily selects the image data expressing the input image. The control unit 60 acquires image data arbitrarily selected by the user from the external device 80.

Step S202 is a resolution conversion process for converting the image data acquired in step S201 to a predetermined resolution. The control unit 60 converts the image data into bitmap format image data having a print resolution adopted by the recording device 100. Each pixel data of the image data after the resolution conversion process is composed of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each pixel has, for example, 256 gradation values in the RGB color space. That is, each pixel data after the resolution conversion indicates the gradation value of the pixel corresponding to the resolution when recording on the medium 1.

Step S203 is a color conversion process for converting the resolution-converted image data into the color space of the ink used for recording by the recording device 100. As described above, when the image data expresses the color of each pixel in RGB gradation, the control unit 60 converts the RGB gradation value for each pixel into the gradation value for each CMYK. The color conversion process can be executed by referring to an arbitrary color conversion lookup table that defines the conversion relationship from RGB to CMYK.

Step S204 is a halftone process for generating dot data. The control unit 60 performs halftone processing on the image data after the correction processing to generate dot data. Specifically, the dot generation rate corresponding to the gradation value is obtained from the dot generation rate table corresponding to the gradation value of 0 to 255 and the dot generation rate, and the dither method / error diffusion is performed in the obtained generation rate. Pixel data is created so that the dots are formed in a dispersed manner by using a method or the like. The dot data generated in this step is matrix-shaped pixel data indicating the presence or absence of dots in each pixel.

Step S205 is a correction process for changing the pulse applied to the head 13 based on the pixel data and the correction value. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a pulse applied to the piezoelectric element corresponding to each nozzle of the head 13. When the pixel data has dots, the head drive unit 64 generates a pulse for driving the piezoelectric element for each nozzle. The pulse generates a predetermined voltage VH that displaces the piezoelectric element at T2-T1 for a predetermined time. The control unit 60 refers to the correction value table, and adjusts the length of the time T1 until the application of the predetermined voltage VH is started according to the correction value of the division region 3 to which the pixel having the dot belongs. As a result, the timing at which the droplets are ejected from the nozzle can be changed, so that the droplets can be landed at a predetermined position on the medium 1.

Step S206 is a data generation process for generating the main recorded data that causes the recording device 100 to perform recording based on the pixel data. The control unit 60 performs a rasterization process of rearranging the matrix-shaped pixel data according to the dot formation order at the time of printing to generate the present recorded data.

Step S105 is a main recording step of main recording on the medium 1 by a plurality of nozzles. The control unit 60 executes recording of the input image on the medium 1 based on the recorded data.

In this embodiment, a test pattern 90 in which a plurality of patches 91 are arranged in the main scanning direction and a plurality of sub-scanning directions is illustrated, but a test pattern in which a plurality of patches 91 are arranged in the sub-scanning direction may be used. With this test pattern, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation of the recording device in which the landing position deviation occurs at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction.
Further, in the present embodiment, it has been described that the patch 91 is recorded by bidirectional printing, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a test pattern in which a plurality of patches 91 are continuously arranged in the sub-scanning direction is recorded by one-way printing, a reference patch 91 as a reference is determined, and a correction value is obtained from the reference patch 91 and each patch 91. You may. With this correction value, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction.
Further, in the present embodiment, the serial head type recording device 100 is illustrated, but the line head type recording device may be a line head type recording device extending and fixed in the width direction of the medium 1. In the case of this recording device, a test pattern in which a plurality of patches 91 are continuously arranged in the sub-scanning direction is recorded by a line head, a reference patch 91 as a reference is determined, and correction is made from the reference patch 91 and each patch 91. You may find the value. With this correction value, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction.

As described above, the following effects can be obtained according to the correction value setting method, the recording method, and the recording device according to the present embodiment.

The correction value setting method records a test pattern 90 in which a plurality of patches 91 for detecting the landing position shift of the droplet are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and based on the recorded test pattern 90, the medium 1 in this recording. Generate a correction value table for correcting the above landing position deviation. This correction value table makes it possible to correct the landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide a correction value setting method for improving the quality of the recorded image.

The correction value setting method records a test pattern 90 in which a plurality of patches 91 for detecting the landing position shift of the droplet are arranged also in the main scanning direction, and based on the recorded test pattern, the medium 1 in this recording. Generate a correction value table for correcting the above landing position deviation. With this correction value table, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in the main scanning direction in addition to the plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction, so that the quality of the recorded image can be further improved.

The correction value setting method obtains the correction value obtained for each patch 91 by interpolating the correction value corresponding to the area between the patches 91. The correction value table including this correction value makes it possible to finely correct the landing position deviation, so that the quality of the recorded image can be further improved.

The recording method generates the main recording data in which the landing position deviation is corrected based on the correction value table generated by the correction value setting method. Based on this recorded data, the main recording is executed in which the landing position deviations at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction are corrected. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording method for improving the quality of the recorded image.

The recording method changes the pulse applied to the piezoelectric element of the head 13 based on the correction value table generated by the correction value setting method. By changing this pulse, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation, so that the quality of the recorded image can be improved.

The recording device 100 records a test pattern 90 in which a plurality of patches 91 for detecting the landing position shift of the droplet are arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and the medium 1 in this recording is based on the recorded test pattern 90. A control unit 60 for generating a correction value table for correcting the above landing position deviation is provided. This correction value table makes it possible to correct the landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide the recording device 100 that improves the quality of the recorded image.

2. 2. Embodiment 2
Hereinafter, the recorded data generation step according to the second embodiment will be described. The recorded data generation step of the present embodiment differs only in the correction process of step S205 described in the embodiment. Hereinafter, the correction processing method in step S205 in the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of matrix-shaped pixel data generated by the halftone processing in step S204. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of pixel data after correction processing according to the second embodiment. In FIGS. 10 and 11, for convenience of explanation, each division region 3 is composed of four pixels 4. Further, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the boundary of the pixel 4 is indicated by a broken line. Further, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the positions where the droplets land on the pixel 4 are indicated by dots 5.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the pixel data generated in step S204, in the pixel 4 with dots, the dot 5 is arranged at the center of the pixel 4 on the recorded data.

Step S205 according to the second embodiment is a correction process for changing the landing position of the droplets ejected from the nozzle on the main recording data based on the pixel data and the correction value. The control unit 60 refers to the correction value table, and shows the landing position of the dot 5 in the main scanning direction with respect to the center of the pixel 4, that is, FIG. 11 according to the correction value of the division region 3 to which the pixel 4 having dots belongs. Like the position of the dot 5, the landing position of the droplet ejected from the nozzle on the main recorded data is changed. As a result, even if the pulse applied to the piezoelectric element is the same, the timing at which the droplet is ejected from the nozzle is substantially changed with respect to the center of the pixel 4, so that the droplet is placed on the medium 1. It can be landed in a predetermined position. As a result, the landing position deviation is corrected, so that the recording quality can be improved.

The contents derived from the embodiment are described below.

The correction value setting method is mainly to execute a main scan in which a support portion that supports the medium, a head having a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle train axis, and the head are moved relative to the support portion in the main scanning direction. Sub-scanning that executes sub-scanning by moving at least one of the head and the support so that the relative positions of the head and the support change in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the scanning direction with the main scanning direction. A correction value setting method for setting a correction value of a recording device including a unit, wherein the test pattern is recorded by repeating the main scan and the sub scan and ejecting droplets from the nozzle. The recording step includes an acquisition step of acquiring a correction value based on the test pattern recorded on the medium and a setting step of setting the correction value as a correction value used in the main recording. The test pattern is characterized in that a plurality of patches for detecting the landing position shift of the droplets are arranged in the sub-scanning direction.

According to this method, in the recording step, a test pattern in which a patch for detecting the landing position deviation is arranged in the sub-scanning direction is recorded. In the acquisition process, the correction value is obtained based on the recorded test pattern. With this correction value, it becomes possible to correct the landing position deviation of a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide a correction value setting method for improving the quality of the recorded image.

In the above correction value setting method, it is desirable that a plurality of the patches are arranged in the main scanning direction in the test pattern recorded in the recording step.

According to this method, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation at a plurality of positions in the main scanning direction, so that the quality of the recorded image can be further improved.

In the above correction value setting method, in the acquisition step, it is preferable to calculate the correction value corresponding to the region between the patches based on the correction value acquired for each patch.

According to this method, the landing position deviation can be finely corrected by the correction value corresponding to the area between the patches, so that the quality of the recorded image can be further improved.

The recording method is based on the main recording data generation step of generating the main recording data for executing the main recording by using the correction value set by the correction value setting method described above, and the main recording data. It is characterized by having a main recording step of main recording on a medium.

According to this method, in the present recording data generation step, the recording data in which the landing position deviation is corrected based on the correction value set by the correction value setting method is generated. In this recording step, recording in which the landing position deviations at a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction are corrected by the recorded data is executed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording method for improving the quality of the recorded image.

In the above recording method, in the present recording data generation step, it is preferable to change the pulse applied to the head based on the correction value.

According to this method, in the present recording data generation step, since the pulse applied to the head is changed based on the correction value, it is possible to correct the landing position deviation.

In the above recording method, in the present recording data generation step, it is desirable to change the landing position of the droplet ejected from the nozzle on the present recording data based on the correction value.

According to this method, the recorded data generation step changes the landing position on the recorded data based on the correction value. As a result, the landing position deviation is corrected, so that the recording quality can be improved.

The recording device includes a support portion that supports the medium, a head having a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle train axis, and a main scanning unit that executes a main scan that moves the head relative to the support portion in the main scanning direction. And a sub-scanning unit that executes a sub-scanning that moves at least one of the head and the support portion so that the relative positions of the head and the support portion change in the sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction. A recording device including a control unit, wherein the control unit repeats the main scan and the sub scan, discharges droplets from the nozzle to record a test pattern, and is recorded on the medium. A correction value is acquired based on the test pattern, the correction value is set as a correction value used in this recording, and the test pattern is used to detect a displacement of the landing position of the droplets ejected from the nozzle. A plurality of patches are arranged in the sub-scanning direction.

According to this configuration, the control unit records a test pattern in which a patch for detecting the landing position deviation is arranged in the sub-scanning direction, and obtains a correction value based on the recorded test pattern. With this correction value, it becomes possible to correct the landing position deviation of a plurality of positions in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording device that improves the quality of the recorded image.

1 ... Medium, 10 ... Main scanning unit, 13 ... Head, 20 ... Sub scanning unit, 23 ... Supporting unit, 60 ... Control unit, 90 ... Test pattern, 91 ... Patch, 100 ... Recording device.

Claims (7)

A support portion that supports the medium, a head having a plurality of nozzles arranged along the nozzle train axis, a main scanning portion that executes a main scan that moves the head relative to the support portion in the main scanning direction, and the main scanning unit. A recording including a sub-scanning unit that performs a sub-scanning that moves at least one of the head and the support portion so that the relative position of the head and the support portion changes in a sub-scanning direction that intersects the scanning direction. It is a correction value setting method that sets the correction value of the device.
A recording step of recording a test pattern by repeating the main scan and the sub scan and ejecting droplets from the nozzle.
An acquisition step of acquiring a correction value based on the test pattern recorded on the medium, and
A setting process for setting the correction value as a correction value used in this recording, and
Have,
In the test pattern recorded in the recording step, a plurality of patches for detecting the landing position deviation of the droplets are arranged in the sub-scanning direction.
A correction value setting method characterized by. In the test pattern recorded in the recording step, a plurality of the patches are arranged in the main scanning direction.
The correction value setting method according to claim 1, wherein the correction value is set. In the acquisition step, the correction value corresponding to the region between the patches is calculated based on the correction value acquired for each patch.
The correction value setting method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the correction value is set. The recording data generation step of generating the recording data for executing the recording by using the correction value set by the correction value setting method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
Based on the recorded data, the recording process of recording on a medium and the recording process
A recording method characterized by having. In the present recording data generation step, the pulse applied to the head is changed based on the correction value.
4. The recording method according to claim 4. In the present recording data generation step, the landing position of the droplet discharged from the nozzle on the present recording data is changed based on the correction value.
4. The recording method according to claim 4. A support part that supports the medium and
A head with multiple nozzles lined up on the nozzle row axis,
A main scanning unit that executes a main scanning that moves the head relative to the supporting unit in the main scanning direction, and
A sub-scanning unit that executes sub-scanning by moving at least one of the head and the support portion so that the relative positions of the head and the support portion change in the sub-scanning direction intersecting the main scanning direction.
A recording device including a control unit.
The control unit repeats the main scan and the sub scan, and records a test pattern by ejecting droplets from the nozzle.
A correction value is acquired based on the test pattern recorded on the medium, and the correction value is obtained.
Set the correction value as the correction value used in this recording, and set it.
In the test pattern, a plurality of patches for detecting the landing position deviation of the droplets ejected from the nozzles are arranged in the sub-scanning direction.
A recording device characterized by.

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