JP4632247B2 - Recording apparatus and registration adjustment method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording unit on which a plurality of recording heads are mounted, a recording apparatus that mounts the recording unit and performs recording on a recording medium, and a registration adjustment method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus that records an image using a plurality of heads, the recorded image is affected by variations in the mounting positions of the heads and the positions of the recording elements. In order to correct the influence and improve the recording quality, a registration adjustment pattern or the like is recorded, the deviation of the recording position for each head is confirmed, and the recording position is adjusted based on the confirmation result. It is common (refer patent document 1).

Further, since the head position may be shifted again when the head is replaced, it is necessary to make an adjustment by recording an adjustment pattern each time.
JP-A-7-323582

  However, when the registration is readjusted every time the head is replaced, for example, when there are a plurality of registration adjustment values such as for each type of paper, it is troublesome because all the adjustments must be performed again.

  In particular, the industrial recording apparatus has a large number of recordings, so there are many opportunities to replace the heads, and there are many types of paper, and the tendency is remarkable in such a recording apparatus.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to eliminate the need for a special operation by a user for registration adjustment when replacing a recording unit equipped with a plurality of recording heads. Another object is to provide a recording apparatus and a registration adjustment method.

  The recording unit according to the present invention includes an information storage unit that stores head mutual positional information indicating a mutual positional relationship among the plurality of recording heads in the recording unit in a recording unit having a plurality of recording heads mounted thereon. And The head mutual position information is, for example, information indicating a relative positional deviation of another recording head with respect to a reference recording head. Such head mutual position information is confirmed and stored for each recording unit before shipment.

  The information storage unit may be configured by a storage unit in at least one head in the recording unit, or may be configured by a storage unit provided on a control board in the recording unit.

  A recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording unit equipped with a plurality of recording heads, and obtains a registration adjustment value for adjusting a recording deviation with respect to a recording medium in the recording apparatus in which the recording head is replaced in units of the recording units. Means, an adjustment value storage means for storing the obtained registration adjustment value, a recording deviation adjustment means for adjusting a recording deviation using the stored registration adjustment value at the time of recording on a recording medium, and the recording Control means for updating the registration adjustment value at the time of replacement of the unit, the recording unit has information storage means for storing the head mutual position information in the recording unit, and the control means is recording before and after the replacement. The difference between the head mutual position information of the units is obtained, and the stored registration adjustment value is calculated based on the difference. Update.

  A plurality of registration adjustment values may be managed according to the type of recording medium. This makes it possible to set an appropriate registration adjustment value for each type of recording medium.

  A registration adjustment method according to the present invention is a registration adjustment method in a recording apparatus that includes a recording unit on which a plurality of recording heads are mounted and replaces the recording head in units of the recording unit. The step of storing the head mutual position information, and the step of initially obtaining the registration adjustment value for the recording head of the recording unit based on the recording of the registration adjustment pattern and storing this in a nonvolatile manner And a step of obtaining a difference between head mutual position information in both recording units before and after the replacement when the recording unit is replaced, and a step of reflecting the obtained difference in the stored registration adjustment value. It is characterized by.

  As described above, according to the present invention, after performing the operation for obtaining the registration adjustment value by recording the registration adjustment pattern initially, the registration is performed without performing such operation when the recording head is subsequently replaced. The adjustment value is updated.

  According to the present invention, by storing a plurality of head mutual position information in a recording unit equipped with a plurality of recording heads, a special operation by a user for registration adjustment is not required when the recording unit is replaced. Thereby, it is possible to reduce a user's trouble at the time of replacing the recording unit.

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

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of a recording apparatus 111 according to the present embodiment together with a host computer 108 which is an external apparatus. The recording device 111 is connected to the host computer 108 via the printer cable 110 to constitute a recording system.

  In the recording apparatus 111 according to the present embodiment, a long line head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged over the entire width of the recording medium 101 such as paper is used as the plurality of recording heads 104 to 107 constituting the recording unit 401. 4 shows an ink jet recording apparatus using four lines.

  The recording device 111 receives various data processed by the host computer 109 and records it as an image. Further, the printer status such as error information of the recording device 111 and predetermined information described later are configured to be transmitted to the host computer 109.

  The recording apparatus 111 in this embodiment incorporates four ink-jet line recording heads (black) as the recording heads 104 to 107, and supplies ink from a common ink tank (not shown). The recording medium 101 which is continuous paper is fed under the recording head, and recording is performed on the recording medium 101 by the recording heads 104 to 107 using the recording medium detection of the recording medium detection sensor 103 as a trigger.

  Note that a high-speed monochrome recording apparatus can be obtained by using the same color (for example, black) as in the present embodiment, but it is also possible to use a plurality of recording heads 104 to 107 with different colors to form a color recording apparatus. It is.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of control hardware of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The control unit 201 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 202, executes a control program stored in a nonvolatile memory (ROM) 203, and controls each peripheral device. The control unit 201 includes a work area for various data processing, a memory (RAM) 204 used as a reception buffer, an image memory 205 used as an image development unit, and the like. Further, the control unit 201 drives a head driving circuit 210 for driving the recording heads 104 to 107 and motors for driving various motors 206 for controlling the cleaning operation and the recording operation for keeping each recording head in an optimum state for recording. The driver 211 is configured to control an input / output interface control unit (I / O) 212 of the paper transport unit 207 for feeding paper under the recording head.

  A recording unit 401 on which the recording heads 104 to 107 are mounted has a memory 108 for storing head mutual position information in a nonvolatile manner.

  The recording apparatus basically includes a USB controller 208 that receives image data, a cleaning command, and the like transmitted from the host computer 109 via a printer cable such as a USB, and operates according to the received various command instructions. To do. However, the interface is not limited to USB.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of recording control of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  A raster drawing 301 is obtained by transferring data for one raster from the image memory 205 to the recording head 104 in synchronization with an output pulse of an encoder (not shown). Similarly, the raster drawing 302 is obtained by transferring the next raster data from the image memory 205 to the recording head 105 in synchronization with the next output pulse of the encoder. Further, the raster drawing 303 is obtained by transferring the next raster data of the image memory 205 to the recording head 106 in synchronization with the next output pulse of the encoder. Similarly, a raster drawing 304 is obtained by the recording head 107. Thereafter, an output image is obtained by similarly using the recording heads 104 to 107 in units of one raster.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the head mutual position information of each of the recording heads 104 to 107 mounted on the recording unit 401 in the present embodiment will be briefly described. Each recording head has a plurality of recording elements arranged in the paper width direction substantially orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction, but due to positional deviation of each recording head when mounted on the recording unit, manufacturing errors of each recording head, etc. The positions of the recording elements in the paper width direction do not necessarily match between the recording heads. In the paper transport direction, the recording elements can be misaligned between the recording heads for the same reason. Conventionally, in order to correct such misregistration, a known registration adjustment pattern (test pattern) is recorded on a sheet and read to determine the positional relationship between the heads in the sheet conveyance direction and the sheet width direction. It is possible to obtain head mutual position information indicating In the example of the figure, the amount of deviation from a desired position is indicated by a numerical value with a sign for the other recording heads with the recording head 104 as a reference (the sign indicates the direction of deviation). Based on this, the recording timing can be corrected for deviations in the paper conveyance direction during actual recording, and the deviation in the paper width direction can be corrected by shifting the dot position set by taking in data for one line. is there.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B show two examples of the storage mode of the head mutual position information in the present embodiment. FIG. 5A shows an example in which the head mutual position information is collectively stored in the nonvolatile memory 108 mounted on the substrate 402 in the recording unit 401. FIG. 5B shows an example in which the recording heads 104 to 107 in the recording unit 401 have nonvolatile memories 108 a to 108 d and the head mutual position information is recorded in at least one of these memories. In the case of FIG. 5B, the head mutual position information may be stored in one of the memories 108a to 108d in a lump, or may be distributed and stored in a plurality of memories.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of automatic registration adjustment using head mutual position information stored in the recording unit 401. As described above, in the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, the head mutual position information 402 of the recording head is stored in the memory in the recording unit 401 at the time of shipment. The head mutual position information 402 is a value obtained by recording a registration adjustment pattern on the maker side at the time of manufacturing the recording unit, and reading it with a sensor. This head mutual position information becomes a standard position adjustment value between recording heads, and this is reflected in an actual registration adjustment value.

  When the recording unit is installed in the user's recording apparatus, the recording apparatus initially obtains a registration adjustment value by performing registration adjustment. In each recording apparatus, it is conceivable that a deviation of the adjustment value may occur depending on the type of paper. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the specification 109 allows the storage of a plurality of registration adjustment values 403 (up to 20 in this case) for each type of recording medium. At the time of adjustment, a registration adjustment pattern is recorded for each paper type to be used, and an adjustment value is set.

  Initially, this operation is repeated for each type of paper, and the registration adjustment value 403 is set in the host computer 109. The head mutual position information 402 is also stored in the host computer 109.

  When the recording unit 401 is replaced next time, a difference 404 between the head mutual position information 402 of the current recording unit 401 and the head mutual position information 402 of the new recording unit 401 is used as a registration adjustment value 403 for each recording medium. By reflecting this, it is possible to automatically perform registration adjustment without newly registering and reading a registration adjustment pattern.

  By adopting such a method, it is not necessary for the user to perform registration adjustment once except when the recording apparatus is initially installed, and it is possible to save time and labor when replacing the head.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing main functional units of the recording apparatus related to the operation of the present embodiment.

  The initial registration adjustment value acquisition unit 501 is a means for performing registration adjustment when the recording apparatus 111 equipped with the recording unit 401 is used from the host computer 109, and is a known registration adjustment value for each paper type. It is a means for obtaining a corresponding registration adjustment value by performing pattern recording and pattern detection. The registration adjustment value thus obtained is recorded in the registration adjustment value recording unit 506 in a nonvolatile manner.

  The registration adjustment value update unit 502 when the recording head is replaced is a unit that updates the registration adjustment value stored in the registration adjustment value storage unit when the recording head is replaced.

  The recording deviation adjustment unit 504 controls the recording unit 401 using the registration adjustment value stored in the registration adjustment value storage unit 506 to adjust the recording timing (and adjust the dot position in the paper width direction). Means to do. The paper transport unit 207 includes the encoder 510 described above.

  An initial registration adjustment value acquisition unit 501, a recording head replacement registration adjustment value update unit 502, and a recording deviation adjustment unit 504 are functional units realized by the control unit 201 (FIG. 2). Although the old head mutual position information recording unit 503 and the registration adjustment value storage unit 506 are assumed to be storage units in the host computer 109 in this embodiment, any non-volatile storage unit (memory) in the recording apparatus is assumed. ) May be used.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the initial registration adjustment in the present embodiment. A program representing the execution procedure of the processing of this flowchart is stored in the ROM 203, and this processing is realized by the CPU 202 interpreting and executing it. The same applies to other flowcharts described later.

  First, a registration adjustment test pattern is recorded using a predetermined paper type (S11). Next, the recorded test pattern is read (S12). Based on this reading result, a registration adjustment value is determined and stored in the registration adjustment value storage unit 506 (FIG. 7) (S13). Next, the head mutual position information is read from the recording unit and stored in the old head mutual position information storage unit 503 (FIG. 7) (S14). Until the processing is completed for all the paper types, the process returns to step S11 and the above processing is repeated.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of head replacement processing in the present embodiment.

  First, head mutual position information is read from the new recording unit after replacement (S21). Further, the head mutual position information of the old recording unit before replacement is read from the old head mutual position information storage unit 503 (S22). Next, the difference between the head mutual position information of the new recording unit and the head mutual position information of the old recording unit is calculated (S23). Therefore, this difference is reflected in all registration adjustment values and stored again.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made.

  In the above embodiment, an ink jet recording apparatus that uses four black heads as recording heads and performs raster division control has been described. However, not only a color recording apparatus that uses a plurality of different color heads, but also serial printers and other systems. The present invention can be applied to any recording apparatus capable of exchanging a recording unit having a plurality of heads in units of recording units, such as a printer.

  In the first embodiment, the specification is such that 20 types of registration adjustment values can be stored for each paper type. However, in the case of simply having one registration adjustment value, or other factors other than the paper type. For example, the present invention is also effective when there are registration adjustment values for each recording speed.

  In addition, if the mutual head position in the recording head is adjusted, the system is effective in a wide range such that the registration adjustment itself is unnecessary if the system does not require registration adjustment when installed in the recording apparatus. .

  Although the direction of the positional deviation has been described with respect to both the paper conveyance direction and the paper width direction, it may correspond to only one.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a host computer that is an external apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the control hardware of the recording device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the recording control of the recording device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the head mutual position information of each recording head mounted in the recording unit in this Embodiment. It is the figure which showed two examples of the aspect of the memory | storage of head mutual position information in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing about the automatic registration adjustment using the head mutual position information memorize | stored in the recording unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main function parts of a recording device relevant to operation | movement of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a process of the initial registration adjustment in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process example of the process at the time of head replacement | exchange in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101: Recording medium (paper, etc.)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 ... Recording medium detection sensor 104-107 ... Recording head 108,108a-108d ... Memory 109 ... Host computer 110 ... Printer cable 111 ... Recording apparatus 201 ... Control part 202 ... CPU
203 ... Program storage memory (ROM)
204: Reception and work memory (RAM)
205 ... Image memory 206 ... Various motors 207 ... Paper transport unit 208 ... USB controller 209 ... Control circuit 210 ... Head drive circuit 211 ... Motor driver 212 ... Input / output interface control unit (I / O)
301 to 304: raster image 401 obtained by recording head ... recording unit 402 ... head mutual position information 403 ... registration adjustment value for each sheet 404 stored in the host computer ... difference 501 in head mutual position information of old and new recording units ... Initial registration adjustment value acquisition unit 502... Recording head replacement registration adjustment value update unit 503... Old head mutual position information storage unit 504... Recording deviation adjustment unit 505.

Claims (4)

In a recording apparatus comprising a recording unit equipped with a plurality of recording heads and performing replacement of the recording head in units of the recording unit,
Means for obtaining a registration adjustment value for adjusting a recording deviation with respect to the recording medium;
Adjustment value storage means for storing the obtained registration adjustment value;
A recording deviation adjusting means for adjusting a recording deviation using the stored registration adjustment value at the time of recording on a recording medium;
Control means for updating a registration adjustment value when the recording unit is replaced,
The recording unit has information storage means for storing head mutual position information in the recording unit;
The recording apparatus is characterized in that the control means obtains a difference in head mutual position information of the recording unit before and after the replacement, and updates the stored registration adjustment value with this difference. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of registration adjustment values can be managed for each type of recording medium. The recording unit has a plurality of recording elements arranged over the entire width of the recording medium, according to claim 1, characterized in that moves relative to the recording medium in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction Or the recording apparatus of 2 . A registration adjustment method in a recording apparatus comprising a recording unit equipped with a plurality of recording heads, wherein the recording head is replaced in units of the recording unit,
Storing in each recording unit the head mutual position information in the recording unit;
Initially obtaining a registration adjustment value for the recording head of the recording unit based on recording of the registration adjustment pattern and storing this in a nonvolatile manner;
Obtaining a difference in head mutual position information in both recording units before and after replacement when the recording unit is replaced;
Reflecting the obtained difference in the stored registration adjustment value. A registration adjustment method comprising: