Recording device and method for suppressing recording position deviation of the recording device

Abstract

This invention provides a recording device and a method for suppressing recording position deviation, capable of appropriately adjusting to reduce the deviation of the medium and the recording head in the width direction. The recording device includes: a cartridge or feed tray for holding a medium; a transport unit for transporting the medium placed on the cartridge or feed tray; and a recording head for recording the medium. Furthermore, the recording device includes a medium detection device and a deviation acquisition unit. The medium detection device detects at least one of two side ends in the width direction that intersects the transport direction of the medium transported from the cartridge or feed tray (step S12). The deviation acquisition unit acquires the deviation of the medium relative to the recording head in the width direction based on the detection position of the at least one side end detected by the medium detection device (step S13).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a recording apparatus having a recording head for recording media such as paper, and a method for suppressing recording position deviation of the recording apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a recording apparatus equipped with a recording head for recording media. This recording apparatus includes a media width detection unit that detects the width of the medium, which is the dimension in the width direction intersecting the transport direction of the medium being transported from a transport source. The media width detection unit detects the media width based on the detection positions at both ends of the detected media width direction. Furthermore, the recording apparatus includes a determination unit that determines whether the detected media width is consistent with or inconsistent with a set media width. When the determination unit determines that there is an inconsistency, the recording apparatus, for example, suspends the recording operation as an error.

[0003] This recording device has a cassette or tray for the user to place media. The cassette or tray has an edge guide that can be operated in a way that positions the placed media in the width direction. The user positions the media placed on the cassette or tray in the width direction by operating the edge guide.

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-193071

[0005] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-71357 Summary of the Invention

[0006] However, although users can adjust the position of the medium in the width direction by manipulating the edge guides, it is sometimes impossible to completely adjust the presence or absence of a gap between the edge guides and the medium. Furthermore, when the user forcibly presses the medium between the edge guides, the medium may be placed between them with its width center offset due to bending at the ends. Therefore, the position of the medium in the width direction fed from the cassette or tray to the recording position corresponding to the recording head may sometimes deviate from the set position of the recording head or other recording system in the width direction. A technical problem exists in the recording head where, for example, in the case of a line head, the recording position for recording the medium deviates in the width direction when the width center of the medium deviates relative to the width center of the recording head. It should be noted that this technical problem is not limited to line head configurations; it exists even in serial head configurations.

[0007] A recording apparatus for solving the above-mentioned technical problems includes: a medium placement section capable of placing a medium; a conveying section for conveying the medium placed in the medium placement section; a recording head for recording the medium; a medium detection section for detecting at least one of two side ends in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the medium conveyed from the medium placement section; and a deviation acquisition section for acquiring the deviation of the medium relative to the recording head in the width direction based on the detection position of at least one side end detected by the medium detection section.

[0008] A recording position deviation suppression method for a recording apparatus that solves the above-mentioned technical problems, the recording apparatus comprising: a media placement section having a placement section body and a pair of edge guides, the placement section body being capable of holding a media, the pair of edge guides guiding the media placed on the placement section body in a manner capable of positioning the media in the width direction; a transport section for transporting the media placed on the media placement section along a transport path; and a recording head for recording the media, the recording position deviation suppression method being used to suppress deviation of the transported media and the recording position of the media in the width direction, the recording position deviation suppression method comprising: transporting the media placed on the media placement section; detecting at least one of two side ends in the width direction intersecting the transport path of the media transported from the media placement section; obtaining an amount of deviation of the media relative to the recording head in the width direction based on the detected position of the at least one side end; and adjusting the assembly position of the edge guides relative to the placement section body in the width direction according to the amount of deviation. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the recording device in the first embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer section of the recording device.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the recording device with the box and feed tray open.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a top view of the box.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a top view showing the first positioning mechanism.

[0014] Figure 6 This is a side sectional view showing the adjustment mechanism of the feed tray.

[0015] Figure 7 This is a perspective view showing the medium detection device and its surrounding parts.

[0016] Figure 8 This is an exploded perspective view of the medium detection device.

[0017] Figure 9 This is a top view showing the recording head and media detection device.

[0018] Figure 10 This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the recording device.

[0019] Figure 11 This is a schematic top view illustrating the medium-side detection process in the medium detection device.

[0020] Figure 12 It is a waveform diagram of the signals from each sensor used to obtain and process the deviation of a small-sized medium.

[0021] Figure 13 It is a waveform diagram of the signals from various sensors used to obtain and process the deviation of a large-sized medium.

[0022] Figure 14 This is a flowchart showing the deviation acquisition processing routine.

[0023] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating the deviation acquisition processing routine in the second embodiment.

[0024] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating the deviation acquisition processing routine in the third embodiment.

[0025] Figure 17 This is a side sectional view showing the adjustment mechanism of the feed tray.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0027] 11: Recording device; 12: Printer section; 14: Operation panel; 15: Display section; 16: Operation section; 20: Device body; 21: A cartridge as an example of a media storage section; 21A: Cartridge body; 21B: Receiving recess; 21C: Cover; 21D, 21E, 21F: Guide grooves; 22: A feed tray as an example of a media storage section; 22A: Tray section; 23: Cover; 25: Recording mechanism section; 30: Conveyor path; 31: Conveyor path; 32: A conveyor unit as an example of a conveyor section; 33: Recording unit; 34: Recording head; 34N: Nozzle; 35: Feeding mechanism section; 36: Conveyor path; 37: Conveyor mechanism section; 38: Discharge mechanism section; 41: First feed section; 42: Second feed section 43: Third feed section; 44: First feed roller pair; 45: First feed path; 46: Conveyor roller pair; 48: Second feed path as an example of a conveying channel; 49: Pick-up roller; 50: Separator roller pair; 53: Branching mechanism; 54: Branch conveying path; 55: Conveyor roller pair; 56: Tilting conveying path; 57: Tilting conveyor roller pair; 58: Belt conveying mechanism; 70: First positioning mechanism; 71: First edge guide; 71B: First guide surface; 71C: First base plate section; 72: Second edge guide; 72A: Operating section; 72B: Second guide surface; 72C: Second base plate section; 73: Third edge guide; 73A: Operating section; 74: Second positioning mechanism; 75: First edge guide; 75B: Guide surface; 76: Second edge guide; 77: Hopper plate; 80: Medium detection device as an example of a medium detection unit; 81: Frame; 81A: Medium guide; 81B: Medium support; 82: Carriage; 83: Sensor; 83A: First sensor; 83B: Second sensor; 84, 85: Guide rail; 86: Pulley; 87: Belt; 88: Window; 89: Flexible flat cable; 90: Position sensor; 91: Adjustment mechanism; 92: Screw; 93: Rack and pinion mechanism; 94: First rack; 94A: Tooth; 95: Second rack; 95A: Tooth; 96: Pinion; 96A: Tooth; 97: Support; 97A: Pointer; 97B: Guide groove; 99: Scale; 1 01: Adjustment mechanism; 103: Scale; 104: Pointer; 105: Rack and pinion mechanism; 106: Support part; 115: Motor; 116: Encoder; 120: Control unit; 121: First feed motor; 122: Second feed motor; 123: First conveyor motor; 124: Belt motor; 125: Second conveyor motor; 126-131: Motor drive circuit; 141: Carriage control unit; 142: Detection and processing unit; 143: Deviation acquisition unit; 144: Adjustment processing unit; 145: First counter; 146: Second counter; 147: Calculation unit; 148: Recording position adjustment unit; M, MS, ML: Media; M1: First side; M2: Second side; PD: Printing task data;HP: Starting position; AP: Reverse starting position; L1: Center-to-center distance; SA: Detection signal from the first sensor; SB: Detection signal from the second sensor; SH: Detection signal from the position sensor; ME1: First side end; ME2: Second side end; PE1: Detection position of the first side end (first side end position); PE2: Detection position of the second side end (second side end position); CS: Count start position; CE: Count end position; AS1: Area; AS2: Area; SV: Threshold; SN: Noise; HC: Center of the recording head; MC: Width center; T1, T2: Time; D1, D2: Distance; Δx: Deviation; CD: Conveying direction; Y: Conveying direction; X: Width direction; Z: Vertical direction. Detailed Implementation

[0028] First embodiment

[0029] Configuration of recording device 11

[0030] An embodiment of the recording apparatus will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the recording apparatus 11 is disposed on a horizontal mounting surface. The axis orthogonal to the mounting surface of the recording apparatus 11 is designated as the Z-axis, and the two axes orthogonal to the Z-axis are designated as the X-axis and Y-axis, respectively. Furthermore, the directions parallel to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are respectively referred to as the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction. The X-axis direction includes both the +X and -X directions. The Y-axis direction includes both the +Y and -Y directions. The Z-axis direction includes both the +Z and -Z directions. The Z-axis direction, being parallel to the Z-axis, is also called the vertical direction Z. The X-axis direction is the width direction of the medium M transported by the recording apparatus 11, and is therefore also called the width direction X. Furthermore, the Y-axis is the transport direction of the medium M at the recording position in the recording apparatus 11 where the medium M is recorded, and is therefore also called the transport direction Y.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the recording device 11 is a multifunction printer comprising a printer unit 12 and a scanner unit 13. The printer unit 12 has a recording function for recording media M such as paper, and the scanner unit 13 is disposed above the printer unit 12. An operation panel 14 is provided on the upper surface of the printer unit 12. The operation panel 14 may, for example, include a display unit 15 with touch panel functionality. The touch panel of the display unit 15 may also constitute an operation unit 16. It should be noted that the operation unit 16 may also be an operation switch.

[0032] like Figure 1As shown, the scanner unit 13 includes: a scanner body 17 having a document table (not shown) on its upper surface; and a document table cover 18, which is provided to be opened and closed relative to the upper surface (document table glass surface) of the scanner body 17. An automatic document feeder 19 (automatic document feeder (ADF)) is mounted on the upper part of the document table cover 18.

[0033] The scanner unit 13 has a reading unit (not shown) that opens the document stage cover 18 and reads originals placed on a document stage glass (not shown). The automatic document feed unit 19 feeds multiple originals placed on the mounting stage 19A one by one, and the originals scanned by the reading unit are sequentially discharged to the stacking unit 19B. The recording device 11 has a generally cuboid device body 20 with the scanner body 17 and operation panel 14 described above on its upper part, and a document stage cover 18.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, a multi-layered cartridge 21 capable of holding and storing multiple media M in a loaded state is inserted into the lower part of the printer section 12. The cartridge 21 can be inserted and removed from the front side relative to the main body 20. Additionally, a feed tray 22 is provided on one side of the main body 20, designed to open and close with its lower end as the center. This makes the feed tray 22... Figure 1 The open state, indicated by the double-dotted line, allows the medium M to be placed on it. Additionally, on one side of the main body 20, a maintenance cover 23, including the feed tray 22, and a maintenance cover 24 positioned lower than the cover 23 are provided in an openable and closable manner. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the box 21 and the feed tray 22 each constitute an example of a medium-loading unit. The feed tray 22 can be a manual tray capable of holding only one medium M, or it can be a hopper-equipped structure capable of holding multiple media in a loaded state and automatically feeding them one by one.

[0035] Additionally, the portion of the printer section 12 located above the cartridge 21 becomes the recording mechanism section 25 (see reference) for recording the medium M conveyed from the cartridge 21 or the feed tray 22. Figure 2 ). In the printer section 12 and the scanner body section 17 (see reference) Figure 1 A stacker section 26 is provided between the media M after the discharge record is set.

[0036] Internal structure of printer section 12

[0037] Next, refer to Figure 2 The detailed structure of the printer section 12 will be explained. It should be noted that... Figure 2 In the diagram, only the topmost box is shown in box 21. Furthermore, the direction in which the medium M is transported during recording by the recording head 34 is defined as the transport direction Y, and the direction intersecting (especially orthogonal to) the transport direction Y is defined as the width direction X.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, the recording mechanism 25 described above is provided in the main body 20 of the recording apparatus 11 in this embodiment. The recording mechanism 25 is provided with a conveying unit 32, which is an example of a conveying unit that conveys the medium M along the conveying path 31, and a recording unit 33 having a recording head 34 that records the medium M during the conveying process.

[0039] The recording head 34 uses an inkjet printing method to eject ink. The recording head 34 consists of... Figure 1 The recording head is a long strip-shaped recording head that extends slightly longer than the width of the medium M in the width direction X, orthogonal to the paper surface. It is fixed in a predetermined position and cannot move in the width direction X. In this embodiment, a line recording method is used where the recording head 34, composed of a fixed line head, simultaneously ejects ink droplets from the medium M in transit over its entire width direction X to record in a line. Images or documents are recorded on the medium M by the ink ejected from the recording head 34 adhering to it. It should be noted that a serial recording method can also be used, where the recording unit 33 has a recording carriage that can move in the width direction X, and the recording head 34 mounted on the recording carriage moves in the width direction X (main scanning direction) while recording. In the serial recording method, the transport of the medium M and the recording action of the recording head 34 are performed alternately.

[0040] In addition, such as Figure 2 As shown, the conveying unit 32 includes a feeding mechanism 35 for feeding medium M, a conveying mechanism 37 for conveying medium M along the conveying path 36 when recording is performed by the recording unit 33, and a discharge mechanism 38 for conveying the recorded medium M along the discharge path 62 and discharging it to the stacker section 26.

[0041] The feeding mechanism 35 includes a first feeding section 41 that uses the feeding tray 22 as a feeding source, a second feeding section 42 that uses the cartridge 21 as a feeding source, and a third feeding section 43 that feeds the medium M, after the recording of the first side M1 (surface) has ended, back to the transport path 36 during double-sided recording. The first feeding section 41 feeds the medium M, which is placed on the feeding tray 22 and is in the state of being inserted from the insertion port 20A at its front end, along the first feeding path 45 to the transport mechanism 37 by rotating the first feeding roller pair 44.

[0042] Additionally, the second feed unit 42 feeds the medium M from the cartridge 21 along the second feed path 48. The second feed unit 42 includes a pick-up roller 49 that feeds out the uppermost medium M in the cartridge 21, a separation roller pair 50 that separates the fed medium M into a sheet, and a second feed roller pair 51 and a driven roller 52 that feed the separated sheet of medium M.

[0043] like Figure 2 As shown, the conveying mechanism 37 includes a pair of conveying rollers 46 positioned slightly downstream of the confluence of the first to third feed sections 41 to 43 in the conveying direction Y, and a belt conveying mechanism 58 positioned opposite the recording head 34. The medium M is corrected during feeding by its front end contacting the stopped conveying rollers 46, and the corrected medium M is conveyed to the conveying path 36 by the rotation of the conveying rollers 46.

[0044] The belt conveyor mechanism 58 has a pair of rollers 59 and 60 and an annular conveyor belt 61 wound on the rollers 59 and 60. Additionally, a driven conveyor roller 47 is positioned above the rollers 59 of the belt conveyor mechanism 58 and is driven by contact with the conveyor belt 61. The belt conveyor mechanism 58 employs an electrostatic adsorption method to attract the medium M onto the surface of the charged conveyor belt 61 using electrostatic force. The recording head 34 records images or documents on the medium M by ejecting ink onto the medium M, which is conveyed at a certain speed while maintaining a certain gap with the recording head 34, through the belt conveyor mechanism 58.

[0045] During double-sided recording, the third feed unit 43 performs a refeeding process, flipping the medium M already recorded on the first surface M1 (one side) and guiding it back to the conveying mechanism unit 37. The medium M recorded on the first surface M1, discharged from the conveying mechanism unit 37, is guided to the branch conveying path 54 via the branch mechanism 53, and then guided to the... Figure 2 The medium M is located above the recording unit 33 in the flip-conveyor path 56. Furthermore, through the rotation of multiple flip-conveyor roller pairs 57, the medium M is fed along the flip-conveyor path 56, thus merging with the first feed path 45 and the second feed path 48 while the medium M2 is flipped towards becoming the recording surface. Afterwards, the medium M is again guided to the conveyor unit 37, and the recording head 34 records the second surface M2 of the medium M, thereby performing double-sided recording.

[0046] The discharge mechanism 38, through the rotation of multiple discharge rollers 63 arranged along the discharge path 62, discharges the completed recording medium M from the medium discharge port 20B. Figure 2 The medium M is discharged onto the stacker section 26 as shown by the double-dotted line. The discharged recorded medium M is loaded onto the stacker section 26. It should be noted that the transport path 30 transports the medium M from the cartridge 21 and the feed tray 22 along the path through the position that can be recorded by the recording head 34. Figure 2 As shown, the medium M conveyed from the cartridge 21 and the feed tray 22 is conveyed in the conveying direction CD along the conveying path. Furthermore, the direction in which the medium M is conveyed in the recording area of ​​the recording head 34 within the conveying direction CD is the conveying direction Y, which is parallel to the Y-axis.

[0047] like Figure 2 As shown, a media detection device 80, as an example of a media detection unit, is disposed upstream of the recording head 34 in the transport direction Y. The media detection device 80 is located on the lower side near the confluence of the first feed path 45 and the second feed path 48, and near the confluence of the transport path 30 and the reversing transport path 56. The media detection device 80 detects the side end in the width direction X that intersects (especially orthogonally) the transport direction Y of the media M fed by the first feed unit 41 and the second feed unit 42.

[0048] Figure 2 The drive roller of the first feed roller pair 44 shown is driven by the first feed motor 121 (see reference). Figure 10 The second feed roller pair 51 is driven by the second feed motor 122 (see reference). Figure 10 The drive rollers of conveyor roller pair 46 and the drive rollers of reversing conveyor roller pair 57 are powered by the first conveyor motor 123 (see reference). Figure 10 Driven by power. It should be noted that... Figure 2 The belt conveyor 58 shown consists of a belt motor 124 (see reference). Figure 10 Driven by power. Additionally... Figure 2 The discharge mechanism 38 shown consists of a second conveyor motor 125 (see reference). Figure 10 Driven by power.

[0049] Description of the cartridge 21 and feed tray 22 in the recording device 11

[0050] like Figure 3 As shown, the recording device 11 includes a cartridge 21 and a feed tray 22 as media carriers. Figure 3 The diagram shows the state where the box 21 is pulled out from the main body 20 of the device and the state where the feed tray 22 is unfolded into a usable state.

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown, the box 21 has a receiving recess 21B capable of receiving a medium M. A first positioning mechanism 70 is mounted on the box 21. The first positioning mechanism 70 includes a pair of edge guides 71 and 72 capable of positioning the placement position of the medium M in the width direction X. The first edge guide 71 and the second edge guide 72 are arranged opposite to each other in the width direction X, configured to slide with a variable relative interval. In addition, the first positioning mechanism 70 includes a third edge guide 73 that positions the placement position of the medium M in a direction intersecting the width direction X. The position of the medium M in the width direction X, which is received in the receiving recess 21B, is positioned by the pair of edge guides 71 and 72.

[0052] In addition, such as Figure 3As shown, the feed tray 22 includes a tray portion 22A capable of holding a medium M and a second positioning mechanism 74 mounted on the tray portion 22A. The second positioning mechanism 74 includes a pair of edge guides 75 and 76 capable of positioning the placement position of the medium M in the width direction X. The first edge guide 75 and the second edge guide 76 are arranged opposite to each other in the width direction X, configured to slide with a variable relative interval. The position of the medium M placed on the tray portion 22A in the width direction X is positioned by the pair of edge guides 75 and 76.

[0053] Composition of box 21 and adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101

[0054] Next, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The internal structure of box 21 and the adjustment mechanism 91 provided by box 21 will be explained.

[0055] like Figure 4 As shown, the box 21 has: a box body 21A with a receiving recess 21B; and a cover 21C fixed to the front of the box body 21A. A pair of rollers 21G are provided on a pair of extensions extending from the box body 21A to the opposite side of the cover 21C. The box 21 can be loaded and unloaded relative to the device body 20 with a relatively light operating force by rolling the pair of rollers 21G.

[0056] like Figure 4 As shown, in the receiving recess 21B of the box 21, a pair of edge guides 71 and 72 constituting the first positioning mechanism 70 are arranged in a manner that allows them to slide in the width direction X. The first edge guide 71 is assembled in a manner that allows it to move along the guide groove 21D provided at the bottom of the box 21 in the width direction X. The second edge guide 72 is assembled in a manner that allows it to move along the guide groove 21E provided at the bottom of the box 21 in the width direction X. The pair of edge guides 71 and 72 can approach / separate by the same amount in the width direction X. The second edge guide 72 has an operating part 72A that allows the user to lock and unlock it. In addition, the third edge guide 73 is assembled in a manner that allows it to move along the guide groove 21F provided at the bottom of the box 21 in the width direction X. The third edge guide 73 has an operating part 73A that allows the user to lock and unlock it. In addition, a hopper plate 77 is provided in the area where the medium M is placed in the receiving recess 21B. The hopper plate 77 has an H-shape, for example, with recesses formed in the portion corresponding to the moving areas of the edge guides 71, 72, and 73. With the cartridge 21 inserted into the device body 20, the hopper plate 77 is configured to lift the medium M and press it against the pickup roller 49 (see reference). Figure 2 ).

[0057] like Figure 4As shown, an adjustment mechanism 91 is provided at the bottom of the box 21, which is capable of adjusting the position of a pair of edge guides 71, 72 relative to the assembly position of the box body 21A in the width direction X. The adjustment mechanism 91 includes a screw 92 that fixes the assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70, including the pair of edge guides 71, 72, so that it cannot move in the width direction X. By loosening or removing the screw 92, the assembly position of the pair of edge guides 71, 72 can be adjusted to move in the width direction X.

[0058] Figure 5 The configuration of the first positioning mechanism 70 is shown. Figure 5 The method for adjusting the deviation Δx of the assembly position of a pair of edge guides 71 and 72 in the width direction X is explained.

[0059] like Figure 5 As shown, the first positioning mechanism 70 includes a rack and pinion mechanism 93 that causes a pair of edge guides 71 and 72 to slide in conjunction. The rack and pinion mechanism 93 includes a first rack 94, a second rack 95, and a pinion 96.

[0060] A first rack 94 is fixed to the bottom of a first edge guide 71 and extends toward a second edge guide 72 in the width direction X. A second rack 95 is fixed to the bottom of a second edge guide 72 and extends toward a first edge guide 71 in the width direction X. The first rack 94 and the second rack 95 have teeth 94A and 95A on their opposing sides. A pinion 96 is located at the width center of the first edge guide 71 and the second edge guide 72 in the width direction X, and is located between the first rack 94 and the second rack 95 in the conveying direction Y. The teeth 96A of the pinion 96 mesh with the teeth 94A of the first rack 94 and the teeth 95A of the second rack 95.

[0061] like Figure 5 As shown, the first edge guide 71 has a first guide surface 71B at one side end of the guiding medium M. The second edge guide 72 has a second guide surface 72B at the other side end of the guiding medium M. The first edge guide 71 has a first base plate portion 71C extending from its base in the +X direction. The second edge guide 72 has a second base plate portion 72C extending from its base in the -X direction. The pinion 96 is rotatably supported via a shaft portion 98 on a support portion 97 of a strip extending from the second base plate portion 72C toward the first edge guide 71 in the width direction X. Figure 5 In the illustrated state, the support portion 97 protrudes further from the bottom surface of the first edge guide 71 toward the opposite side of the second edge guide 72 than the first edge guide 71. This support portion 97 constitutes part of an adjustment mechanism 91 capable of adjusting the assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 in the width direction X.

[0062] like Figure 5 As shown, the adjustment mechanism 91 has a pointer 97A formed at the front end of the support portion 97 and a scale 99 formed on the bottom surface of the receiving recess 21B of the housing 21. The front end of the support portion 97 is supported by a guide shaft 21H that passes through the guide groove 97B formed at the front end, allowing it to move in the width direction X. When the two screws 92 are loosened, the second edge guide 72 can move relative to the housing body 21A in a small range in the width direction X in the +X and -X directions. The two screws 92 pass through an elongated screw hole formed in the bottom plate of the receiving recess 21B in the width direction X. The screws 92 are tightened to secure the support portion 97 and the bottom plate of the receiving recess 21B. The assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 can move within the length direction of the screw hole (not shown) through which the screws 92 pass. The range of the scale 99 indicated by the pointer 97A is set in accordance with the range of movement of the first positioning mechanism 70. When technical service personnel operate the adjustment mechanism 91 to perform adjustment work, they can visually confirm the adjustment amount when adjusting the assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 based on the change in the position of the scale 99 indicated by the pointer 97A. The adjustment mechanism 91, which can be adjusted manually, consists of a pinion 96, a support 97, a screw 92, a pointer 97A, and a scale 99.

[0063] like Figure 5 As shown, the assembly position of the pair of edge guides 71, 72 relative to the recording head 34 (see reference). Figure 2 The assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 is deviated in the +X direction by an offset amount Δx. While adjusting this offset amount Δx, the two screws 92 are loosened, and the assembly positions of the pair of edge guides 71, 72 and the rack and pinion mechanism 93 relative to the box body 21A are adjusted in the -X direction by an offset amount Δx. That is, the assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 relative to the box body 21A is adjusted in the -X direction by an offset amount Δx. At this time, while observing the change in the position of the scale 99 indicated by the pointer 97A, the assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 is adjusted to a position where the pointer 97A moves in the -X direction by an adjustment amount -Δx. When the position adjustment of the first positioning mechanism 70 is completed, the first positioning mechanism 70 is fixed relative to the box body 21A by tightening the screws 92.

[0064] Next, refer to Figure 6 The adjustment mechanism 101 of the feed tray 22 will be described.

[0065] like Figure 6As shown, the feed tray 22 has an adjustment mechanism 101 with a configuration substantially the same as that of the adjustment mechanism 91 of the box 21. The second positioning mechanism 74 has a pair of edge guides 75, 76 and a rack and pinion mechanism 105. The pair of edge guides 75, 76 have a guide surface 75B for guiding the medium M (only one side is shown).

[0066] like Figure 6 As shown, the adjustment mechanism 101 includes a screw 102, a support portion 106 constituting a rack and pinion mechanism 105, a scale 103 formed at the front end of the support portion 106, and a pointer 104 formed on the tray portion 22A. Figure 6 In the example shown, the scale 103 protrudes from the window formed in the tray portion 22A, allowing for visual confirmation. It should be noted that the pointer 104 may also be formed in the support portion 106 in such a way that it protrudes from the window in the tray portion 22A, with the scale 103 formed on the upper surface of the tray portion 22A.

[0067] When technical service personnel or others are adjusting the deviation amount Δx, the screw 102 of the adjustment mechanism 101 is loosened. When the screw 102 is loosened, the second positioning mechanism 74 can be moved relative to the tray portion 22A in the width direction X. That is, the assembly position of the second positioning mechanism 74 can be adjusted in the width direction X. With the screw 102 loosened, the position of the second positioning mechanism 74 is adjusted relative to the tray portion 22A in the +X or -X direction within the range of the screw insertion hole formed by the elongated hole through which the screw 102 is inserted. At this time, the second positioning mechanism 74 is positioned by adjusting its position in the width direction X by the deviation amount Δx according to the change in the position of the scale 103 indicated by the pointer 104. When the position adjustment of the second positioning mechanism 74 is completed, the second positioning mechanism 74 is fixed relative to the tray portion 22A by tightening the screw 102.

[0068] Next, refer to Figure 7 , Figure 8 The detailed structure of the medium detection device 80 is described below.

[0069] like Figure 7 As shown, the media detection device 80 has an elongated shape that extends slightly longer than the width of the media M at its maximum width in the width direction X. Two windows 88 are provided along the width direction X (the length direction of the frame). In the recording device 11 of this embodiment, the media M is fed center-wise regardless of its size, with its width center passing through the width center position of the feed path. The media support portion 81B is formed by the two windows 88 and the media guide portion 81C. In addition, the media detection device 80 is connected to wiring from the control unit 120, and the detection signal from the sensor 83 is input to the control unit 120.

[0070] like Figure 8 As shown, the upper surface of the media detection device 80 includes a media guide section 81A, two windows 88, and a media guide section 81C. The media M fed from the cartridge 21 is guided by the media guide section 81A. Additionally, the media M fed from the cartridge 21 and the media M fed from the feed tray 22 are guided along the upper surface of the media support section 81B, which is formed by the windows 88 and the media guide section 81C. The media M conveyed along the upper surface of the media detection device 80 is guided toward the conveyor roller pair 46.

[0071] like Figure 8 As shown, the frame 81 of the medium detection device 80 is composed of a base 111 and a cover 112. A pair of guide rails 84 and 85 are provided on the upper surface of the base 111, extending parallel to each other along the length direction. The carriage 82 is assembled in a manner that allows it to move along the pair of guide rails 84 and 85 in the length direction of the frame 81. Furthermore, a pair of pulleys 86 are assembled at predetermined intervals at each end of the upper surface of the base 111 in the width direction X. An annular belt 87 is wound around the pair of pulleys 86, and the carriage 82 is fixed to a portion of the belt 87. The sensors 83 mounted on the carriage 82 consist of a pair of sensors 83A and 83B arranged at different positions in the width direction X. Additionally, the other end of a flexible flat cable 89, one end of which is fixed to the base 111, is connected to the carriage 82. The flexible flat cable 89 extends from its fixed portion to the base 111 along one of the guide rail portions 85, forming an arc-shaped bend midway, and its other end connects to the carriage 82. Furthermore, as the carriage 82 moves, the arc-shaped bend of the flexible flat cable 89 moves in the width direction X, thereby maintaining the electrical connection between the moving carriage 82 and the control unit 120. Additionally, a position sensor 90 is provided at one end of the base 111 in the width direction X to detect the starting position (initial position) of the carriage 82, which serves as a reference position on the movement path. It should be noted that in the following description, sensor 83A is sometimes referred to as the first sensor 83A, and sensor 83B as the second sensor 83B.

[0072] like Figure 8 As shown, the base 111 and the cover 112 are assembled into a frame 81 by screwing multiple screws 113 through multiple screw holes formed on the periphery of the cover 112 into multiple threaded holes 114.

[0073] Positional relationship between recording head 34 and media detection device 80

[0074] Figure 9 The positional relationship between the recording head 34, the media detection device 80, and the media M is shown. For example... Figure 9 As shown, carriage 82 is in Figure 9The starting position HP indicated by the solid line is... Figure 9 The movement is between the reverse starting positions AP, indicated by the double-dotted line, where the reverse starting position AP is the end opposite to the starting position HP in the width direction X.

[0075] like Figure 9 As shown, the initial position HP and the reverse initial position AP of the carriage 82 are the end positions on both sides when the carriage 82 moves in the width direction X. The position sensor 90 is turned on when the carriage 82 is at the initial position HP and turned off when the carriage 82 is at a position away from the initial position HP.

[0076] like Figure 9 As shown, an electric motor 115 is assembled on the back of the base 111. The drive shaft of the electric motor 115 is connected to a pulley 86 on one side. In this example, the electric motor 115 is, for example, a stepper motor. A control signal is input to the electric motor 115 from the control unit 120 via wiring (not shown). By driving the electric motor 115 to rotate forward and reverse based on the control signal (step control signal) from the control unit 120, the carriage 82 reciprocates along the guide rails 84 and 85 in the width direction X by rotating forward and reverse along the belt 87.

[0077] Figure 9 The two sensors 83A and 83B shown are light-reflective optical sensors. Sensors 83A and 83B each have a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion. Sensors 83A and 83B receive reflected light emitted from the light-emitting portion via the light-receiving portion and output a detection signal with a voltage level corresponding to the amount of light received. At a position relative to the moving path of the two sensors 83A and 83B across the transport path of the medium M, a surface formed of a material with a light reflectivity different from that of the medium M is disposed. This surface is, for example, a portion of the surface of a guide member (not shown) that transports the medium M along the transport path. The medium M is typically a light color such as white; therefore, the surface opposite the sensors 83A and 83B across the transport path is, for example, a dark color such as black.

[0078] in addition, Figure 9 The position sensor 90 shown is, for example, a light-transmitting optical sensor. The position sensor 90 includes, for example, a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion (not shown) arranged opposite to each other. When the carriage 82 is in the initial position HP, the light is detected by the detected portion 82A (see reference 82A) protruding from the carriage 82. Figure 11 When the light emitted from the light-emitting part to the light-receiving part is blocked, the position sensor 90 enters a detection state. On the other hand, when the carriage 82 moves away from the starting position HP to the reverse starting position AP, the light emitted from the light-emitting part is received by the light-receiving part, and the position sensor 90 enters a non-detection state.

[0079] like Figure 9 As shown, the recording head 34 is a line head, having multiple nozzles 34N in the width direction X, extending beyond the maximum paper width. The nozzles 34N are arranged in n rows at a certain nozzle spacing along an inclined direction at a predetermined acute angle relative to the transport direction Y, thus forming multiple nozzle columns N1, N2, N3, ... in the width direction X. It should be noted that... Figure 9 The recording head 34 shown depicts only two types of nozzles 34N that spray out two colors of ink, and the nozzles 34N that spray out two colors of ink. The nozzle series is labeled with reference numerals N1, N2, N3, ...

[0080] The nozzles 34N constituting the nozzle rows N1, N2, N3, ... are sequentially designated as #1, #2, #3, ..., #n along a direction from downstream to upstream in the transport direction Y. The spacing of #i and #i+1 (where i = 1, 2, ..., n-1) in the width direction X is the same. The points of nozzles #1 to #n projected onto the transport direction Y relative to a virtual line parallel to the width direction X are arranged at a certain spacing in the width direction X. This certain spacing corresponds to the pixel spacing when the recording head 34 records the medium M. Furthermore, the spacing in the width direction X between nozzle #n in nozzle row Nj and nozzle #1 in its adjacent nozzle row Nj+1 (where j is a natural number) is equal to the pixel spacing. In this way, the nozzles 34N are arranged in the width direction X at a certain pixel spacing for each color, within a range wider than the maximum width of the medium M. It should be noted that the recording head 34 is constructed by assembling multiple unit heads 34A adjacent to each other in the width direction X on the lower surface of the head body 39.

[0081] Figure 9 The recording head 34 shown is assembled in a predetermined position by the frame (not shown) constituting the main body 20 of the device. The recording head 34 is assembled with high positional accuracy such that its width center coincides with the theoretical center HC. Similarly, the media detection device 80 is assembled in a predetermined position by the frame (not shown) constituting the main body 20 of the device. The media detection device 80 is assembled with high positional accuracy such that the width center of the media detection range coincides with the theoretical center DC.

[0082] The recording device 11 can handle various media sizes. Figure 9 In the text, for example, a double-dotted line is used to depict the medium M with the largest width dimension and the smaller medium M with a smaller width dimension. It should be noted that, in the following, the medium M with the largest width dimension is sometimes denoted as medium ML, and the smaller medium M is denoted as medium MS.

[0083] here, Figure 2The conveyor roller pair 46 shown is a positioning roller, which determines the start time of conveying the medium M downstream. By bringing the front end of the fed medium M into contact with the stationary conveyor roller pair 46, a correction action is performed to remove or reduce the skewness (slant) of the medium M. After this correction action, by matching the feed speed of the feed units 41 and 42 with the conveying speed of the conveyor roller pair 46, the medium M is loaded onto the conveyor belt 61 of the conveyor mechanism 58 at a certain conveying speed.

[0084] like Figure 2 As shown, the media detection device 80 is positioned upstream in the conveying direction Y of the medium M after correction, at a position further upstream than the clamping position of the medium M held by the conveying rollers 46. The media detection device 80 detects the side end of the medium M after correction, whether it is a stopped medium M or a low-speed medium M that has started conveying after correction.

[0085] And, as Figure 9 As shown, when conveying a medium MS with a width dimension smaller than its maximum width dimension, such as a standard size, the sensor 83 moves in the width direction X after its correction operation to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium MS. Similarly, when conveying a medium ML with its maximum width dimension, the sensor 83 moves in the width direction X after its correction operation to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium ML. Figure 9 In the example shown, the side end at the starting position HP is referred to as the first side end ME1, and the side end at the opposite starting position AP is referred to as the second side end ME2. In this embodiment, the first side end ME1 and the second side end ME2, which are the two sides of the width direction X of the medium M, are detected by the sensor 83.

[0086] The control unit 120 can calculate the deviation Δx of the transported medium M from the theoretical center HC of the recording head 34 based on the position information related to the positions of the first side end ME1 and the second side end ME2 of the medium M detected by the sensor 83.

[0087] Next, refer to Figure 10 The electrical configuration of the recording device 11 will be described. For example... Figure 10As shown, the recording device 11 includes a control unit 120 for unified control of the recording device 11, a medium detection device 80, the aforementioned operation panel 14, a conveying unit 32 for conveying medium M, and a recording head 34 for recording the medium M during conveying. The conveying unit 32 includes: a first feed motor 121, which is the power source for feeding the first feed section 41 of the medium M placed on the feed tray 22; and a second feed motor 122, which is the power source for feeding the second feed section 42 of the medium M stored in the box 21. In addition, the conveying unit 32 includes: a first conveying motor 123, which is the power source for conveying the conveying roller pair 46 and the discharge mechanism 38, etc., of the fed medium M; a belt motor 124, which is the power source for the belt conveying mechanism 58; and a second conveying motor 125, which is the power source for conveying the conveying roller pair 55 and the flipping conveying roller pair 57 of the medium M on which the first surface M1 has been recorded.

[0088] Multiple motors 121 to 125 are electrically connected to the control unit 120 via motor drive circuits 126 to 130, the same number as the motors in the conveying system. The control unit 120 controls each motor 121 to 125 via the motor drive circuits 126 to 130 to perform feeding, conveying, flipping during double-sided recording, and discharging of the medium M. Furthermore, the control unit 120 performs a correction operation on the medium M by controlling motors 121 to 123, etc. Before conveying the medium M to the conveyor belt 61, the control unit 120 starts driving the motor 124, and the medium M, whose deviation has been eliminated by the correction operation, is fed onto the conveyor belt 61, which is driven at a constant conveying speed. It should be noted that an electromagnetic clutch capable of switching the conveyor roller pair 55 to forward and reverse rotation can also be provided, with the power source for the conveyor roller pair 55 and the flipping conveyor roller pair 57 set as a first conveyor motor 123 shared with the conveyor roller pair 46, and the second conveyor motor 125 eliminated.

[0089] Additionally, a recording head 34 is electrically connected to the control unit 120. The control unit 120, for example, performs ejection control on the recording head 34 based on print image data in print job data PD received from the host device (not shown). The recording head 34 is ejected from the nozzle 34N (see reference 120) by ejection control based on the print image data. Figure 9 The ink or other liquid is ejected to record an image or similar data based on printed image data onto the medium M being transported. This image or similar data is recorded on a portion of the conveyor belt 61 within the medium M being transported.

[0090] Additionally, an operation unit 16 and a display unit 15 constituting the operation panel 14 are electrically connected to the control unit 120. Based on operation signals input from the operation unit 16, the control unit 120 receives various setting information corresponding to items selected from the menu displayed on the display unit 15, or instructions for recording, scanning, and copying. Furthermore, the control unit 120 has a first mode that detects the deviation Δx of the medium M transported to the recording head 34 relative to the recording head 34 in the width direction X. Technical personnel or others, after confirming whether the medium M has deviated from the recording head 34 and adjusting the deviation to a smaller value, operate the operation unit 16 to select the first mode. When an operation signal to select the first mode is input from the operation unit 16, the control unit 120 switches the recording device 11 to the first mode. Additionally, the control unit 120 displays the deviation Δx detected in the first mode on the display unit 15.

[0091] In addition, Figure 10 The control unit 120 shown is electrically connected to a medium detection device 80. Specifically, the control unit 120 is electrically connected to a motor 115 (serving as the power source for the carriage 82), a position sensor 90, a first sensor 83A on the carriage 82, and a second sensor 83B. The control unit 120 drives the motor 115 via a motor drive circuit 131, thereby controlling the carriage 82 to reciprocate and return along the width direction X of the medium M, and controlling the carriage 82 to stop at a target stop position.

[0092] in addition, Figure 10 The control unit 120 shown is based on the detection signal SH input from the position sensor 90 (refer to...). Figure 12 , Figure 13 The control unit 120 determines whether the carriage 82 is located at the starting position HP. If the detection signal SH is at the detection signal level (e.g., H level), the control unit 120 determines that the carriage 82 is located at the starting position HP. If it is at the non-detection signal level (e.g., L level), the control unit 120 determines that the carriage 82 is not located at the starting position HP.

[0093] and then, Figure 10 The control unit 120 shown receives a detection signal SA from the first sensor 83A and a detection signal SB from the second sensor 83B during the movement of the carriage 82 (both referenced in the original text). Figure 12 , Figure 13 The control unit 120 acquires the side terminals ME1 and ME2 of the medium M (refer to the detection signals SA and SB input from the first sensor 83A and the second sensor 83B, respectively) based on the detection signals SA and SB input from the first sensor 83A and the second sensor 83B. Figure 9 , Figure 11The control unit 120, for example, obtains the detection positions of the side ends ME1 and ME2, the width dimension of the medium M, the medium size, and other width-related medium information based on the position of the carriage 82 when the side ends ME1 and ME2 in the width direction X of the medium M are detected.

[0094] For example, when a technician instructs the recording device 11 to perform deviation measurement processing on the deviation of the recording head 34 and the conveyed medium M in the width direction X, the technician operates the operation unit 16 to select a first mode. When the first mode is selected, the control unit 120 displays a setting screen on the display unit 15. The technician specifies the medium placement unit as the feed source to be measured in the setting screen. In this example, either the cartridge 21 or the feed tray 22 can be selected as the medium placement unit. When the technician instructs to execute the first mode in the setting screen where the medium placement unit is selected, the control unit 120, which receives the instruction, executes the operation. Figure 14 The program is shown in the flowchart.

[0095] Figure 10 The control unit 120 shown may include, for example, a computer and a memory (not shown). The memory stores... Figure 14 The flowchart shows the procedure for media detection and processing. The control unit 120 includes multiple functional units required for deviation measurement processing, which function by executing the program via a computer. The control unit 120 includes a carriage control unit 141, a detection processing unit 142, a deviation acquisition unit 143, and an adjustment processing unit 144 as multiple functional units. The detection processing unit 142 includes a first counter 145, a second counter 146, and an arithmetic unit 147. Furthermore, the adjustment processing unit 144 includes a recording position adjustment unit 148.

[0096] Upon receiving the instruction for the first mode, the control unit 120 performs deviation measurement processing. The control unit 120 conveys the medium M placed in the designated medium placement section. If the designated medium placement section is cartridge 21, the control unit 120 drives the second feed motor 122 to convey the medium M from cartridge 21. When the conveyed medium M is delivered to the predetermined position, the control unit 120 performs a correction operation. The control unit 120 eliminates the deviation of the medium M by performing a known correction operation, such as bringing the leading edge of the medium M abutting against the stopped conveyor roller pair 46. At the moment the correction operation ends, the control unit 120 drives the medium detection device 80 to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M. The drive control of the medium detection device 80 at this time is performed by the carriage control unit 141.

[0097] The carriage control unit 141 drives and controls the motor 115 via the motor drive circuit 131, thereby controlling the movement of the carriage 82 in the width direction X and the position control of stopping the carriage 82 at the target position. The carriage control unit 141 uses sensors 83A and 83B, which move together with the carriage 82 in the width direction X, to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M.

[0098] The detection processing unit 142 acquires the side end positions PE1 and PE2 of the medium M based on the detection signal SA input from the first sensor 83A and the detection signal SB input from the second sensor 83B. The first counter 145 counts the position in the width direction X of the carriage 82 with the starting position HP as the origin. The second counter 146 performs predetermined counting processing for detecting the side ends ME1 and ME2 based on the detection signals SA and SB, triggered by the rising / falling edge of the signal. The arithmetic unit 147 uses the count value of the first counter 145 when the first sensor 83A detects the side end, the count value of the first counter 145 when the second sensor 83B detects the side end, and the distance L1 between the sensors 83A and 83B (refer to...). Figure 11 The calculation unit 147 calculates the detection positions (also referred to as side detection positions PE1 and PE2) of the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M. In this example, the calculation unit 147 performs the above calculation when detecting the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the large-size medium ML.

[0099] The deviation acquisition unit 143 uses the side-end detection positions PE1 and PE2 of the medium M to calculate and acquire the theoretical center HC of the recording head 34 and the width center MC of the transported medium M (both referencing...). Figure 11 The deviation amount Δx in the width direction X is recorded. The control unit 120 displays the deviation amount Δx acquired by the deviation amount acquisition unit 143 on the display unit 15. By displaying the deviation amount Δx on the display unit 15, technical service personnel and others can know the deviation amount Δx measured by the recording device 11. A person can manually adjust the assembly position of a pair of edge guides 71, 72 by an appropriate adjustment amount by operating the adjustment mechanism 91, or manually adjust the assembly position of a pair of edge guides 75, 76 by an appropriate adjustment amount by operating the adjustment mechanism 101.

[0100] The adjustment processing unit 144 performs adjustment processing to reduce the deviation Δx between the theoretical center HC of the recording head 34 and the width center MC of the medium M in the width direction X. The recording position adjustment unit 148 performs recording position adjustment processing to shift the recording position of the recording head 34 on the medium M by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation Δx in the width direction X. Here, the adjustment to reduce the deviation Δx using the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101 involves manual operation, but this recording position adjustment processing is performed automatically by the control unit 120, so no manual operation is required.

[0101] Side-end detection of medium M

[0102] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for detecting the side terminals ME1 and ME2 of medium M using two sensors 83A and 83B. (See diagram for example.) Figure 11 As shown, the first sensor 83A and the second sensor 83B are configured on the upper part of the carriage 82 with a center-to-center distance L1 separated in the width direction X. The carriage 82 can be positioned at the right end position E1 ( Figure 11 The slide 82 moves within the range between the starting position HP (shown by the solid line) and the left-side ending position E2 (e.g., the reverse starting position). In this example, to minimize the width dimension X of the recording device 11, the movable range of the slide 82 is relatively narrower relative to the width dimension of the widest medium ML. In the case of a small medium MS, when the slide 82 is at the ending positions E1 and E2, both sensors 83A and 83B are located outside the width direction of the medium MS and are in a non-detection state, not detecting the medium MS. Therefore, the side detection position can be obtained based on the detection signal of either sensor 83A or 83B. However, in the case of a large medium ML, when the slide 82 is at the ending positions E1 and E2, one of the two sensors 83A and 83B is in a non-detection state, and the other is in a detection state. Moreover, the combination of the detection and non-detection states of the two sensors 83A and 83B is reversed when the slide 82 is at the ending position E1 and the ending position E2.

[0103] Therefore, as Figure 11 As shown, control unit 120 (refer to) Figure 10 In the case of small-sized media MS, only one of the two sensors 83A and 83B (e.g., the first sensor 83A) is used to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2. For example, when only the first sensor 83A is used, the carriage 82 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 by means of the first sensor 83A. Figure 11 The starting position HP is moved to... Figure 11 The position A1, indicated by the double-dotted line, is used to detect the two side ends ME1 and ME2 of the small-sized medium MS.

[0104] Additionally, when handling large-sized media ML, the control unit 120 uses both the first and second sensors 83A and 83B to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2. The carriage 82 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 via... Figure 11 The starting position HP is moved to... Figure 11 The double-dotted line indicates position A2 (end position E2), thereby detecting the two side ends ME1 and ME2 of the large-sized medium ML. At this time, the second sensor 83B detects the first side end ME1 of the large-sized medium ML, and the first sensor 83A detects the second side end ME2 of the large-sized medium ML.

[0105] Medium-side detection and processing

[0106] Figure 12 and Figure 13 The detection signals output from each sensor 83A, 83B, and 90 are shown, along with a method for obtaining the deviation Δx using the detection results of the side position of the medium M. The following refers to... Figure 12 , Figure 13 The two methods are explained. The first method uses the areas AS1 and AS2 when the detection signal is at level H. The second method uses the time T1 and T2 or the distance D1 and D2 when the detection signal is at level H.

[0107] Figure 12 These are the signal waveforms of various detection signals when detecting the side end of a small-sized medium (MS). Figure 13 These are the signal waveforms of various detection signals when detecting the side end of a large-sized medium ML. In the two curves, the horizontal axis represents time t, and the vertical axis represents the voltage levels of each detection signal SA, SB, and SH. It should be noted that since the carriage 82 moves at a certain speed V1, the time t in the two curves corresponds to the number of steps of the motor 115, i.e., the moving distance of the carriage 82.

[0108] Case of small-sized dielectric MS

[0109] First, let's explain the first method. For example... Figure 12 As shown, when the object being detected is a small medium MS, when the carriage 82 is at the initial position HP, the detection signal SH is at level H, and the detection signals SA and SB of the two sensors 83A and 83B are both at level L. When the carriage 82 starts moving from the initial position HP, the first counter 145 counts the number of pulse edges of the detection signal from the encoder 116 rotating from the detection motor 115. The count value of the first counter 145 indicates the moving position of the carriage 82.

[0110] First, when the first sensor 83A detects that the result of the first side terminal ME1 is that the detection signal SA rises from the L level to the H level, the count value of the first counter 145 at this time is obtained as the first side terminal position PE1. In addition, the side terminal detection position at this time is taken as the counting start position CS, and the second counter 146 starts counting.

[0111] For each position indicated by the count value of the first counter 145, the detection processing unit 142 determines whether the detection signal SA is at level H. If it is at level H, it increments the count value of the second counter 146 by "1". This count value is equivalent to... Figure 12The area AS1 of the region where the detection signal SA is at level H is shown. In this example, a threshold SV is set for the count value corresponding to this area AS1. Counting continues until the detection signal SA of the first sensor 83A drops from level H to level L, provided that the count value of the second counter 146 has not reached the threshold SV.

[0112] exist Figure 12 Even if the detection signal SA drops momentarily due to noise SN caused by foreign objects such as paper dust, counting continues as long as the count value does not exceed the threshold SV. In this way, the threshold SV functions as a filter to prevent false detections caused by foreign objects such as paper dust.

[0113] Additionally, when the first sensor 83A detects the second side ME2, and the detection signal SA drops from H level to L level, the two counters 145 and 146 stop counting, taking this position as the end-counting position CE. The count value of the first counter 145 at this moment is taken as the second side position PE2. Furthermore, the count value of the second counter 146, which stops counting at this moment, corresponds to the width dimension from the first side ME1 to the second side ME2 of the medium MS. Like this... Figure 10 The detection processing unit 142 shown acquires the first side position PE1 and the second side position PE2.

[0114] Next, the second method will be described. In the second method, the second counter 146 counts the time or distance from the point when the sensor 83, which moves at a constant speed together with the carriage 82, detects the first side end ME1. For example... Figure 12 As shown, firstly, when the first sensor 83A detects the first side ME1, and the detection signal SA rises from the L level to the H level, this position is taken as the counting start position CS, and the second counter 146 begins counting time or distance. The second counter 146 counts the number of pulse edges of the clock signal input from a timer (not shown) during time counting, and on the other hand, counts the number of pulse edges of the detection signal input from the encoder 116 during distance counting. A time or distance threshold SV is set for the count value. The second counter 146 continues counting until the detection signal SA drops from the H level to the L level, provided that the count value has not reached the threshold SV. Figure 12 In this second method, even if the detection signal SA drops momentarily due to noise SN caused by foreign matter such as paper dust, counting continues as long as the count value does not exceed the threshold SV. In this second method, the threshold SV also functions as a filter to prevent false detections caused by foreign matter such as paper dust.

[0115] Subsequently, when the count value exceeds the threshold SV, and the first sensor 83A detects the second side ME2, and the detection signal SA drops from H level to L level, this position is taken as the counting end position CE, and the count value of the first counter 145 is obtained as the second side position PE2. At this time, the count value of the second counter 146, which stops counting, corresponds to the width dimension of the medium MS. Like this, Figure 10 The detection processing unit 142 shown acquires the first side position PE1 and the second side position PE2.

[0116] Large-size media ML case

[0117] Next, in the case where the object of inspection is a large-sized medium ML, refer to Figure 13 The first and second methods are explained. For example... Figure 13 As shown, when the object to be detected is a large medium ML, with the carriage 82 at the initial position HP, the detection signal SH is at level H, the detection signal SA of the first sensor 83A is at level H, and the detection signal SB of the second sensor 83B is at level H. Therefore, the first side position PE1 is detected by the rise of the detection signal SB, and the second side position PE2 is detected by the fall of the detection signal SA. In this way, different detection signals SA and SB are used to acquire the side positions PE1 and PE2. Similarly, a threshold SV is set.

[0118] After the carriage 82 starts moving from the starting position HP, when the second sensor 83B detects that the result of the first side end ME1 is an increase in the detection signal SB, the count value of the first counter 145 at this time is acquired as the first side end position PE1. In addition, the second counter 146 starts counting at this time.

[0119] When the detection signal SA is at level H, the second counter 146 increments the count value by "1" to start from... Figure 13 The first side position PE1, as shown, counts the area AS2 corresponding to the region where the detection signal SA is at level H. The second counter 146 continues counting as long as this count value does not reach the threshold SV, until the detection signal SA decreases. Figure 13 Even if the detection signal SA drops momentarily due to noise SN caused by foreign objects such as paper dust, counting continues as long as the count value does not exceed the threshold SV. In this way, the threshold SV functions as a filter to prevent false detections caused by foreign objects such as paper dust.

[0120] Additionally, when the first sensor 83A detects the second side ME2, and the detection signal SA drops from H level to L level, the count value of the first counter 145 at this time is acquired as the second side position PE2. Furthermore, the count value of the second counter 146, which stops counting at this time, corresponds to the width dimension of the medium MS. Like this, Figure 10 The detection and processing unit 142 shown acquires the first side position PE1 and the second side position PE2 of the large-sized medium ML.

[0121] Next, the second method will be explained. For example... Figure 13 As shown, firstly, when the second sensor 83B detects the first side ME1, and the detection signal SB rises from the L level to the H level, this position is taken as the counting start position CS, and the second counter 146 begins counting time or distance. The second counter 146 continues counting until the detection signal SA drops from the H level to the L level, provided that the count value has not reached the threshold SV. Then, when the count value exceeds the threshold SV, and the detection signal SA of the first sensor 83A drops from the H level to the L level, this position is taken as the counting end position CE, and the count value of the first counter 145 is obtained as the second side position PE2. Furthermore, the count value of the second counter 146 at this point corresponds to the width dimension of the large-size medium ML. Like this... Figure 10 The detection and processing unit 142 shown acquires the first side position PE1 and the second side position PE2 of the large-sized medium ML.

[0122] The role of the implementation method

[0123] Next, refer to Figure 14 The function of the recording device 11 will be explained.

[0124] For example, when a technician adjusts the deviation of the media holder, they operate the operation unit 16 to select the first mode. Then, a setting screen for deviation adjustment is displayed on the display unit 15. On this setting screen, the technician operates the operation unit 16 to select either the cartridge 21 or the feed tray 22 as the media holder to be adjusted. Media M is placed on the designated media holder. Here, the example of selecting cartridge 21 as the media holder is explained. If media M is not placed in cartridge 21, the technician places media M. When the technician confirms that the necessary information has been entered on the setting screen, they operate the operation unit 16 to instruct the deviation adjustment process to be performed. When an instruction signal is input, the control unit 120 executes... Figure 14 The deviation adjustment process is shown.

[0125] First, in step S11, the control unit 120 delivers the medium M. The control unit 120 delivers the medium M from, for example, a cartridge 21 designated as a medium carrier.

[0126] In step S12, the control unit 120 detects the side ends of the medium M. The control unit 120 drives the medium detection device 80 to detect the side ends of the transported medium M at a position midway along the transport path. Specifically, the detection processing unit 142 drives the medium detection device 80. The positions when the sensor 83 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M are taken as side end detection positions PE1 and PE2. The side end detection positions PE1 and PE2 are determined by... Figure 12 , Figure 13 The first or second method shown is used for detection.

[0127] In step S13, the control unit 120 obtains the deviation Δx of the medium M relative to the recording head 34 in the width direction X based on the side detection positions PE1 and PE2. Specifically, the control unit 120 obtains the width center position of the medium M based on the side detection positions PE1 and PE2. The control unit 120 obtains the deviation Δx of the width center position of the medium M relative to the center HC of the recording head 34, which is the theoretical width center. Here, when the position of the center HC is set to xhc and the width center position of the medium M is set to xmc, the deviation acquisition unit 143 calculates Δx = xmc - xhc.

[0128] In step S14, the control unit 120 displays the deviation amount Δx. That is, the control unit 120 displays the deviation amount Δx calculated by the deviation amount acquisition unit 143 on the display unit 15.

[0129] Technical service personnel observe the deviation Δx displayed on the display unit 15 and adjust the adjustment mechanism 91. Specifically, as follows... Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the technical service personnel pulled box 21 out of the main body 20 of the device and released it. Figure 4 , Figure 5 The screw 92 shown is used to adjust the assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 relative to the box body 21A (particularly the storage recess 21B) in the width direction X. This position adjustment is performed while observing... Figure 5 The pointer 97A and scale 99 are shown, and the position is adjusted in the width direction X by an offset Δx displayed on the display unit 15. When the adjustment of the offset Δx is completed, the screw 92 is tightened. Thus, the first positioning mechanism 70 is fixed in the adjusted position in the width direction X.

[0130] As a result, the position of the medium M, positioned in the width direction X, is adjusted by a pair of edge guides 71 and 72. After the adjustment is complete, the medium M is placed in cartridge 21 and then inserted into the device body 20. During subsequent printing, the deviation Δx between the recording head 34 and the transported medium M in the width direction X is reduced by the previous adjustment. The recording head 34 is able to print images on the medium M with no positional deviation or with a very small positional deviation.

[0131] On the other hand, when the feed tray 22 is selected as the medium placement section, the deviation amount Δx is also displayed on the display section 15 by performing deviation adjustment processing. (Technical service personnel release...) Figure 6 While observing the pointer 104 and scale 103, adjust the assembly position of the second positioning mechanism 74 relative to the tray portion 22A in the width direction X by the deviation amount Δx using the screw 102 shown. After adjustment, tighten the screw 102 to complete the adjustment operation.

[0132] In the deviation adjustment process of the first embodiment, the control unit 120 measures the deviation Δx and displays the measured deviation Δx. The adjustment of the deviation Δx is performed by manual operation of the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101.

[0133] According to the first embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

[0134] (1) The recording device 11 includes: a cartridge 21 or a feed tray 22 capable of holding a medium M; a transport unit 32 for transporting the medium M placed in the cartridge 21 or feed tray 22; and a recording head 34 for recording the medium M. Furthermore, the recording device 11 includes a medium detection device 80 and a deviation acquisition unit 143. The medium detection device 80 detects at least one of two side ends ME1, ME2 that intersect the transport direction CD of the medium M transported from the cartridge 21 or feed tray 22 in the width direction X. The deviation acquisition unit 143 acquires the deviation Δx of the medium M relative to the recording head 34 in the width direction X based on the detection positions PE1, PE2 of the at least one side end detected by the medium detection device 80. With this configuration, since the deviation Δx between the transported medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X can be acquired, adjustments to reduce the deviation between the medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X can be appropriately made.

[0135] (2) The recording device 11 includes a display unit 15 that displays the deviation amount Δx. With this configuration, the user can know the deviation amount Δx through the display unit. It is possible to appropriately adjust the deviation of the transported medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X.

[0136] (3) The cartridge 21 or feed tray 22 includes a cartridge body 21A or tray portion 22A for holding the medium M, a pair of edge guides 71, 72 or 75, 76, and adjustment mechanisms 91, 101. The pair of edge guides 71, 72 or 75, 76 are assembled to the cartridge body 21A or tray portion 22A in a manner movable in the width direction X, guiding the medium M in a manner capable of positioning it in the width direction X. The adjustment mechanisms 91, 101 are configured to adjust the assembly position of the pair of edge guides 71, 72 or 75, 76 relative to the cartridge 21 or feed tray 22 in the width direction X. According to this configuration, by adjusting the assembly position of the pair of edge guides in the width direction X by the adjustment mechanisms 91, 101, the deviation amount Δx can be reduced. Therefore, the deviation of the recording position of the recording head 34 recording the medium M in the width direction X can be reduced.

[0137] (4) The adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101 of the recording device 11 have a motor 151 as a drive source. The control unit 120 controls the motor 151 to adjust the assembly position of the edge guides 71, 72 or 75, 76 by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation amount Δx. According to this configuration, the adjustment of the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101 can be automated. Therefore, manual adjustment can be performed with less frequency, or manual adjustment can be eliminated.

[0138] (5) The media detection device 80 is equipped with a sensor 83 that is movable in the width direction X at a position upstream of the nozzle of the recording head 34 in the transport direction CD. The deviation acquisition unit 143 takes the position where the sensor 83 switches from non-detection to detection when the media detection device 80 performs a detection operation as a detection position of one side. After a first cumulative value, which accumulates the number of items detected by the sensor 83 from that detection position for each unit position, exceeds a threshold SV preset according to the media size, the position where detection switches from non-detection is taken as the detection position of the other side. With this configuration, false detections caused by foreign matter such as paper dust can be suppressed, and both side positions of the media M can be detected. Therefore, false detections of deviation amount Δx can be suppressed.

[0139] (6) The media detection device 80 is equipped with a sensor 83 that is movable in the width direction X at a position upstream of the nozzle 34N of the recording head 34 in the transport direction CD. The deviation acquisition unit 143 takes the position where the sensor 83 switches from non-detection to detection when the media detection device 80 performs a detection operation as a detection position of one side. After a first measurement value of the time or distance detected by the sensor 83 from this detection position exceeds a threshold SV preset according to the media size, the position that switches from detection to non-detection is taken as the detection position of the other side. With this configuration, false detections caused by foreign matter such as paper dust can be suppressed, and the positions of both sides of the media M can be detected. Therefore, false detections of deviation amount Δx can be suppressed.

[0140] (7) The recording device 11 includes a cartridge body 21A or a tray 22A capable of holding a medium M, a cartridge 21 or a feed tray 22 having a pair of edge guides 71, 72 or 75, 76, a transport unit 32, and a recording head 34 for recording the medium M. The pair of edge guides 71, 72 or 75, 76 guide the medium M placed on the cartridge body 21A or the tray 22A in a manner that positions the medium M in the width direction X. The transport unit 32 transports the medium M placed on the cartridge 21 or the feed tray 22 along the transport path 30. The recording position deviation suppression method in the recording device 11 that suppresses deviation between the transported medium M and the recording position of the medium M in the width direction X includes the following (a) to (d).

[0141] (a) Conveying the medium M placed in the box 21 or the feed tray 22 (step S11).

[0142] (b) Detect at least one of the two side ends ME1, ME2 that intersect the transport path 30 of the medium M transported from the box body 21A or the tray part 22A in the width direction X (step S12).

[0143] (c) Based on the detection position of at least one side end detected by sensor 83, obtain the deviation Δx of medium M relative to recording head 34 in the width direction X (step S13).

[0144] (d) Adjust the assembly position of the edge guides 71, 72 or 75, 76 relative to the box body 21A or the tray part 22A in the width direction X according to the deviation amount Δx.

[0145] According to this method, since the deviation Δx between the transported medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X can be obtained, it is possible to appropriately adjust and reduce the deviation between the medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X.

[0146] Second embodiment

[0147] Next, refer to Figure 15 The second embodiment will be described. The configuration of the recording device 11 in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. However, the deviation adjustment process performed by the control unit 120 differs from that in the first embodiment. The adjustment of the deviation Δx is not performed manually by technical service personnel or others using the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101, but is performed by the control unit 120 adjusting the recording position of the recording head 34 in the width direction X. Hereinafter, refer to Figure 15 The deviation adjustment process of the second embodiment will be explained.

[0148] exist Figure 15 In this embodiment, the processing of steps S21 to S23 is the same as that of steps S11 to S13 in the first embodiment.

[0149] First, in step S21, the control unit 120 delivers the medium M. The control unit 120 delivers the medium M from, for example, a cartridge 21 designated as a medium carrier.

[0150] In step S22, the control unit 120 detects the side ends of the medium M. The control unit 120 causes the medium detection device 80 to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the transported medium M at a position midway along the transport path. The detection processing unit 142, based on the detection signals SA and SB from the medium detection device 80, performs... Figure 12 , Figure 13 The first or second method shown obtains the detection positions (side detection positions PE1 and PE2) of ME1 and ME2 at the side ends.

[0151] In step S23, the control unit 120 acquires the deviation Δx of the medium M relative to the recording head 34 in the width direction X based on the side detection positions PE1 and PE2. The deviation acquisition unit 143 of the control unit 120 acquires the deviation Δx by calculating Δx = xmc - xhc.

[0152] In the next step S24, the control unit 120 adjusts the recording position of the recording head 34 in the width direction X by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation Δx. This adjustment is made by... Figure 10 The adjustment processing unit 144 shown instructs the recording position adjustment unit 148 to perform the adjustment.

[0153] The recording position adjustment of the recording position adjustment unit 148 is performed as follows. The recording position adjustment unit 148 performs the allocation of each pixel of the printed image data included in the print job data PD received from the host device by the control unit 120 to the nozzle 34N of the recording head 34 (see reference). Figure 9 The nozzle allocation process is performed by the recording position adjustment unit 148. The nozzle allocation destination adjustment process is performed by assigning the nozzle 34N allocated to the allocation destination in the nozzle allocation process to the nozzle 34N that is separated in the width direction X by an adjustment amount equivalent to the deviation amount Δx.

[0154] For example, in Figure 9 In this process, by adjusting the nozzle assignment destination from nozzle #2 to nozzle #3 in nozzle row N1, the recording position is adjusted in the -X direction by an amount equivalent to the nozzle spacing in the width direction X. The recording position adjustment unit 148 performs this nozzle assignment destination adjustment processing on all pixels of the printed image data.

[0155] The recording position adjustment unit 148 performs nozzle allocation destination adjustment processing on all pixels of the printed image data based on the adjustment amount read from the memory. The recording position adjustment unit 148 is, for example, an ASIC (not shown) included in the control unit 120. The control unit 120 instructs the ASIC on the adjustment amount required for the nozzle allocation processing, and the ASIC stores the indicated adjustment amount in its memory. As a function of the ASIC, the recording position adjustment unit 148, based on the adjustment amount read from the memory, corrects the nozzles at the allocation destination of the allocated pixels to nozzles offset from the adjustment amount in the width direction X, and performs nozzle allocation processing. In this step S24, the control unit 120 performs the process of writing the adjustment amount corresponding to the offset amount Δx into the memory of the ASIC.

[0156] During subsequent printing, even if the recording head 34 and the transported medium M deviate by a deviation amount Δx in the width direction X, the recording position of the recording head 34 on the medium M is adjusted by reducing the deviation amount Δx. As a result, the recording head 34 can print images on the medium M with no positional deviation or with a very small positional deviation.

[0157] According to this second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0158] (8) The recording device 11 includes a control unit 120 that adjusts the recording position of the recording head 34 on the medium M by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation amount Δx in the width direction X. According to this configuration, the control unit 120 adjusts the recording position of the recording head 34 on the medium M in the width direction X. Therefore, for example, manual operations performed by a person using the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101 can be eliminated, or the frequency of manual operations can be reduced.

[0159] Third embodiment

[0160] Next, refer to Figure 16The third embodiment will be described. The configuration of the recording device 11 in the third embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment. The deviation adjustment process performed by the control unit 120 differs from that in the first and second embodiments described above. In this third embodiment, the adjustment of the deviation Δx is performed by hardware adjustment manually by technical service personnel or others using adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101, and by software adjustment by the control unit 120 adjusting the recording position of the recording head 34 in the width direction X. Hereinafter, refer to Figure 16 The deviation adjustment process of the third embodiment will be explained.

[0161] exist Figure 16 In this embodiment, the processing of steps S31 to S33 is the same as that of steps S11 to S13 in the first embodiment.

[0162] First, in step S31, the control unit 120 delivers the medium M. The control unit 120 delivers the medium M from, for example, a cartridge 21 designated as a medium carrier.

[0163] In step S32, the control unit 120 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M during the first recording. That is, the control unit 120 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M being transported with the first surface M1 as the recording surface. Hereinafter, the transport of the medium M with the first surface M1 as the recording surface will be referred to as "first transport". The control unit 120 causes the medium detection device 80 to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M being transported with the first surface M1 as the recording surface at a position midway through the transport path. The detection processing unit 142, based on the detection signals SA and SB from the medium detection device 80, performs... Figure 12 , Figure 13 The first or second method shown obtains the detection positions (side detection positions PE1, PE2) of the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M during the first transport.

[0164] In step S33, the control unit 120 acquires a first deviation amount Δx1, which is the amount of deviation of the medium M from the recording head 34 in the width direction X, based on the side-end detection positions PE1 and PE2. The deviation amount acquisition unit 143 acquires the first deviation amount Δx1 by calculating Δx1 = xmc - xhc. It should be noted that the first deviation amount Δx1 is the same as the deviation amount Δx in the first and second embodiments.

[0165] In the next step S34, the control unit 120 flips the medium M. The control unit 120 controls the first conveyor motor 123, etc., to flip the medium M via the flip conveyor path 56, thereby flipping it towards the recording surface of the second side M2. Through this flip control, the medium M is guided by the branch mechanism 53, which is downstream of the recording head 34, to the branch conveyor path 54, and then flips it via the flip conveyor path 56 via the forward rotation and subsequent reverse rotation of the conveyor roller pair 55, thereby flipping it towards the recording surface of the second side M2. That is, the same flipping action is performed as when recording the first side M1 and then flipping it towards the recording surface of the second side M2 ​​during double-sided recording.

[0166] In step S35, the control unit 120 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M during the second recording. That is, the control unit 120 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M being transported with the second surface M2 as the recording surface. Hereinafter, the transport of the medium M with the second surface M2 as the recording surface will be referred to as "second transport". The control unit 120 causes the medium detection device 80 to detect the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M being transported with the second surface M2 as the recording surface at a position midway through the transport path. The detection processing unit 142, based on the detection signals SA and SB from the medium detection device 80, performs... Figure 12 , Figure 13 The first or second method shown obtains the detection positions (side detection positions PE1 and PE2) of the side ends ME1 and ME2 during the second conveying.

[0167] In step S36, the control unit 120, based on the side-end detection positions PE1 and PE2, acquires a second deviation amount Δx2, which is the amount of deviation of the medium M conveyed with the second surface M2 as the recording surface from the recording head 34 in the width direction X. The deviation amount acquisition unit 143 acquires the second deviation amount Δx2 by calculating Δx2 = xmc - xhc. Here, the second deviation amount Δx2 is the first deviation amount Δx1 plus the value of the deviation in the width direction X generated during the conveying process on the conveying path such as the flipping conveying path 56 required for flipping.

[0168] In step S37, the control unit 120 determines whether the first deviation amount Δx1 exceeds a threshold. Here, the threshold is, for example, set as a limit value of the range that can be adjusted by software adjustment of the recording position of the recording head 34 by the control unit 120. That is, the control unit 120 determines whether software adjustment can be performed by determining whether the first deviation amount Δx1 exceeds the threshold. If the first deviation amount Δx1 does not exceed the threshold, the process proceeds to step S38; if the first deviation amount Δx1 exceeds the threshold, the process proceeds to step S40. It should be noted that when software adjustments have been performed in the past, the deviation amount of the past adjustments is also considered when setting the threshold.

[0169] In step S38, the control unit 120 adjusts the recording position of the recording head 34 during the first surface recording in the width direction X according to the first deviation amount Δx1. This adjustment is made by... Figure 10 The adjustment processing unit 144 shown instructs the recording position adjustment unit 148 to perform this process. That is, this process is the same as the process in step S24 of the second embodiment. The control unit 120 writes the adjustment amount, when the recording position adjustment unit 148 corrects the nozzle of the allocation destination of the allocated pixel to a position in the nozzle allocation process that is offset in the width direction X by an adjustment amount corresponding to the first deviation amount Δx1, into the memory as a first adjustment amount.

[0170] In the next step S39, the control unit 120 adjusts the recording position of the recording head 34 during the second-side recording in the width direction X according to the second deviation amount Δx2. This adjustment is made by... Figure 10 The adjustment processing unit 144 indicates that the recording position adjustment unit 148 should perform this process. Although the adjustment amount differs due to the difference between the first deviation amount Δx1 in step S38 and the second deviation amount Δx2 in step S39, this process is essentially the same as step S38. The control unit 120 writes the adjustment amount, when the recording position adjustment unit 148 corrects the nozzle of the allocation destination of the allocated pixel in the nozzle allocation process to a nozzle located at a position offset in the width direction X from the adjustment amount corresponding to the second deviation amount Δx2, as the second adjustment amount into the memory.

[0171] On the other hand, if the first deviation amount Δx1 exceeds the threshold, in step S40, the control unit 120 displays the first deviation amount Δx1. That is, the control unit 120 displays the deviation amount Δx calculated by the deviation amount acquisition unit 143 on the display unit 15.

[0172] Technical service personnel observe the deviation Δx displayed on the display unit 15 and adjust the adjustment mechanism 91. When the adjustment of the first deviation Δx1 is completed, the screw 92 is tightened. Thus, the first positioning mechanism 70 is fixed relative to the box body 21A in the adjusted position in the width direction X.

[0173] As a result, the position of the medium M, which is positioned in the width direction X, is adjusted by a pair of edge guides 71 and 72. When the adjustment is complete, the medium M is placed in the box 21, and the box 21 is then inserted into the device body 20. The technical service personnel who have completed the adjustment operation operate the operation unit 16 to input information indicating that the first deviation amount Δx1 has been adjusted into the recording device 11.

[0174] In step S41, the control unit 120 determines whether information indicating an adjustment of the first deviation amount Δx1 has been input. If no information indicating such adjustment has been input, the control unit 120 remains on standby until such information is input. If information indicating such adjustment has been input, the process proceeds to step S42.

[0175] In step S42, the control unit 120 adjusts the recording position of the recording head 34 during second-side recording in the width direction X by an adjustment amount corresponding to the difference between the first deviation amount Δx1 and the second deviation amount Δx2. This adjustment is performed by... Figure 10 The adjustment processing unit 144 indicates that the recording position adjustment unit 148 should perform the adjustment. Here, the second deviation amount Δx2 is the deviation amount before the technical service personnel manually adjust the first deviation amount Δx1 using the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101. Therefore, at the time point when the adjustment of the first deviation amount Δx1 ends, the required adjustment amount for the medium M being transported with the second surface M2 as the recording surface changes to the value obtained by subtracting the adjustment amount of the first deviation amount Δx1 from the second deviation amount Δx2. Therefore, the control unit 120 writes the adjustment amount corresponding to the difference between the first deviation amount Δx1 and the second deviation amount Δx2 into the memory of the reading destination of the recording position adjustment unit 148.

[0176] Subsequently, during double-sided printing, when recording the first side M1 and the second side M2, the deviations Δx1 and Δx2 of the recording head 34 and the conveyed medium M in the width direction X are reduced through previous adjustments. As a result, images are recorded at appropriate recording positions on both the first side M1 and the second side M2. It should be noted that when the feed tray 22 is selected as the medium placement unit, the following also applies... Figure 16 The flowchart shown performs the same deviation adjustment process. Therefore, when double-sided printing is performed by feeding the medium M placed on the feed tray 22, both the first side M1 and the second side M2 ​​are printed with images, etc., at the appropriate recording positions.

[0177] According to this third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0178] (9) The recording device 11 includes a flipping transport path 56 that flips the medium M after recording on the first surface M1 of the medium M. The medium detection device 80 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M in at least one of a first transport and a second transport, wherein the first transport is the transport of the medium M with the first surface M1 as the recording surface, and the second transport is the transport of the medium M with the second surface M2, which is the opposite side of the first surface M1, as the recording surface after being transported and flipped in the flipping transport path 56. The deviation acquisition unit 143 acquires the deviation Δx of the medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X detected by the medium detection device 80 at the side ends ME1 and ME2.

[0179] According to this configuration, a first deviation Δx and a second deviation Δx can be obtained. The first deviation Δx is the deviation of the medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X when the medium M is transported with the first surface M1 as the recording surface, and the second deviation Δx is the deviation of the medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X when the medium M is transported with the second surface M2 as the recording surface. For example, at least one of the first deviation Δx and the second deviation Δx can be manually adjusted by human operation of the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101, or the control unit 120 can adjust the recording position of the recording head 34 in the width direction X.

[0180] (10) In the recording position deviation suppression method, the following processing is performed. The media detection device 80 detects the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M being transported with the first surface M1 as the recording surface and the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M being transported with the second surface M2 as the recording surface. The deviation amount acquisition unit 143 acquires a first deviation amount Δx1 and a second deviation amount Δx2, wherein the first deviation amount Δx1 is the deviation between the medium M being transported with the first surface M1 as the recording surface and the recording head 34, and the second deviation amount Δx2 is the deviation between the medium M being transported with the second surface M2 as the recording surface and the recording head 34. The display unit 15 displays the first deviation amount Δx1. The recording device 11 includes a control unit 120 that adjusts the recording position of the recording head 34 in the width direction X by an adjustment amount corresponding to the second deviation amount Δx2. According to this recording position deviation suppression method, a first deviation amount Δx and a second deviation amount Δx can be obtained. The first deviation amount Δx is the deviation of the medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X when the medium M is transported with the first surface M1 as the recording surface, and the second deviation amount Δx is the deviation of the medium M and the recording head 34 in the width direction X when the medium M is transported with the second surface M2 as the recording surface. The first deviation amount Δx can be manually adjusted by operating the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101, and the second deviation amount Δx can be automatically adjusted by adjusting the recording position of the recording head 34 in the width direction X by the control unit 120.

[0181] It should be noted that the above implementation method can also be changed to the following method.

[0182] ·like Figure 17 As shown, the adjustment mechanism 91 can also be driven by a power source such as a motor 151. Figure 17As shown, a rack member 152 supporting a pinion 96 and a support portion 97 is provided on the housing 21. The rack member 152 meshes with a gear 153 fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor 151 via teeth 152A and 153A. When the control unit 120 drives the motor 151 to rotate forward, the first positioning mechanism 70 moves relative to the housing body 21A in the +X direction. Conversely, when the control unit 120 drives the motor 151 to rotate in reverse, the first positioning mechanism 70 moves relative to the housing body 21A in the -X direction. The control unit 120 drives the motor 151 in the rotation direction that reduces the deviation amount Δx acquired by the deviation amount acquisition unit 143 with a drive amount corresponding to the deviation amount Δx. Thus, the assembly position of the first positioning mechanism 70 relative to the housing body 21A is adjusted to reduce the deviation amount Δx.

[0183] • The control unit 120 can also execute when it detects that the box 21 is inserted into the device body 20. Figure 14 The deviation adjustment process is shown. This is because when the media M in cartridge 21 is replaced with a media M of a different size or type, or when the user has the opportunity to operate the edge guides 71 and 72, the media M is prone to deviate in the width direction X. In particular, this is effective in a configuration where the control unit 120 performs software adjustment to adjust the recording position of the recording head 34 in the width direction X according to the deviation amount Δx. It should be noted that hardware adjustment of the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101 can also be used, where the user adjusts them manually.

[0184] In the third embodiment, the first deviation Δx during the first transport with the first surface M1 as the recording surface is adjusted manually using the adjustment mechanisms 91 and 101, and the second deviation Δx during the second transport with the second surface M2 as the recording surface is adjusted by image processing through the control unit 120 changing the recording position. That is, an adjustment combining hardware and software adjustments is performed. Alternatively, both the first deviation Δx during the first transport and the second deviation Δx during the second transport can be adjusted by software through the control unit 120 changing the recording position.

[0185] • An adjustment mechanism can also be provided that can adjust the assembly position of the flipping conveyor path 56 relative to the main body 20 in the width direction X, and is configured to perform hardware adjustment of the second deviation amount Δx by manual operation using the adjustment mechanism.

[0186] • The medium detection device 80 only needs to detect one of the side ends ME1 and ME2 of the medium M. In this case, the deviation acquisition unit 143 of the control unit 120 acquires the width dimension of the medium M based on the size information of the medium M. The deviation acquisition unit 143 calculates the deviation amount Δx based on the width dimension of the medium M and the detection position of the one side end detected by the medium detection device 80.

[0187] • In the embodiment described above, the medium detection device 80 includes two sensors 83A and 83B as an example of a medium detection unit, but it may also have only one sensor.

[0188] The media detection device 80 is positioned on the lower side of the conveying path 30, but it can also be positioned on the upper side of the conveying path 30. In this configuration, the side end of the medium M can also be detected by reading the medium M downwards using two sensors 83.

[0189] The method by which sensor 83 detects at least one of the side ends ME1 and ME2 of medium M and uses the detected position of the side end to calculate the deviation Δx can be appropriately modified. For example, sensor 83 can be moved from the outside of the width direction X of medium M towards the width direction X, and the counting of a position counter can be started from the position of a detected side end. The deviation Δx between the count value (measurement position) when the count value reaches the target value corresponding to the center position of the recording head 34 and the theoretical center position (reference position) of the recording head 34 can be calculated. Alternatively, counting can be omitted, and the deviation Δx can be calculated based on the comparison between the detected position of a side end and second position information, which is obtained by adding half of the width dimension obtained from the size information of medium M at this time, to obtain the X coordinate value of the theoretical or measured width center of medium M.

[0190] • When sensor 83 is configured as an optical sensor, it is not limited to a light-reflecting type, but can also be a light-transmitting type. For example, a light source that can move with sensor 83 or a row-shaped light source that can illuminate throughout the entire range of movement of the sensor can be arranged at a position opposite the medium detection device 80 across the transport path. The side end of the medium can also be detected by switching between a light-receiving state that receives light from the light source and a non-light-receiving state that is blocked by the medium M.

[0191] • It can also replace optical sensors, making sensor 83 a contact sensor. Even as a contact sensor, it can detect the side of the medium.

[0192] Alternatively, a DC motor can be used as the power source for the media detection device 80 instead of a stepper motor. When using a DC motor, a linear encoder or rotary encoder capable of outputting a number of pulse signals proportional to the travel distance of the carriage 82 can be used, along with a counter that counts the pulse edges of the encoder's output pulse signals to count the value representing the position of the carriage 82. Furthermore, the control unit 120 only needs to acquire the detection position of the side ends detected by the sensors 83A and 83B based on the counter's count value.

[0193] • The media detection device 80 can also be positioned differently from the embodiment described above, as long as its reading position is upstream of the nozzle 34N of the recording head 34 in the transport direction Y. Alternatively, the reading position of the media detection device 80 can be downstream of the nozzle 34N of the recording head 34 in the transport direction Y. For example, in the first mode for maintenance by technical service personnel, where media M is transported without recording, the side of media M can be detected even downstream of the nozzle 34N in the transport direction CD.

[0194] • The recording device 11 can also be a serial printer. In the case of a serial printer, a recording range is set with a maximum width conceived for the recording head configured to move with the carriage. By setting the center position of the width of this recording range as the center position, the deviation can be obtained by performing the same detection and calculation processing as in the case of a line printer.

[0195] One example of a media detection unit could be a sensor mounted on the carriage of a serial printer. That is, the serial printer is configured such that the carriage with the recording head 34 can move in the main scanning direction. A sensor capable of detecting the side end of the media is mounted on the carriage. Based on the detection position of the side end of the media detected by this sensor, the deviation between the center position of the recording range of the serial recording head 34 and the center of the media width can be obtained. Furthermore, the user can be notified by displaying the obtained deviation on a display unit.

[0196] The media placement unit of the recording device 11 may be only one of the cartridge 21 and the feed tray 22. Furthermore, the cartridge 21 is not limited to multiple units; it may be a single unit. Similarly, the feed tray is not limited to a single unit; multiple units may be provided. Alternatively, the configuration may involve acquiring the media position deviation of at least one cartridge or at least one tray from among the multiple units, and then notifying the user by displaying the acquired position deviation on a display unit, which serves as a notification unit, for example.

[0197] The media detection unit is not limited to a movable sensor configuration; it can also be a fixed sensor configuration. For example, a fixed media detection unit may have multiple sensors continuously or intermittently arranged along the width direction in an area corresponding to the side end of the medium M. A light source is provided at a position opposite the multiple sensors across the transport path. Furthermore, when the medium M blocks light from the light source, the side end of the medium M is detected by switching the sensor that no longer receives light from closed to open. The control unit obtains the detection position of the side end based on the position of the sensor that detected the side end of the medium M.

[0198] • The position of detecting at least one side of the transported medium M can also be downstream of the recording position of the recording head in the transport direction CD. For example, at least one side of the medium M can be detected by a sensor positioned downstream of the recording position. In this case, at least one side of the medium M before recording can be detected, or at least one side of the medium M after recording can be detected.

[0199] • Alternatively, it can be configured to detect only one side of the conveyed medium M. In this case, the deviation acquisition unit 143 of the control unit 120 can also use the side detection position and the width dimension obtained from the medium size information included in the printing task data PD to calculate the deviation Δx.

[0200] • It is not limited to a center-feed method where the center of the width of the medium transport area is aligned with the center of the width of the medium M in the width direction X. It can also be a biased unilateral feed method where one end of the width direction of the medium M is aligned with one end of the width direction of the medium transport area, thus feeding the medium M biased towards one side of the width direction X.

[0201] • The recording device 11 is not limited to a line printing recording device (line printer) or a serial printing recording device (serial printer), but can also be a horizontal printing recording device (horizontal printer) in which the carriage can move in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Even when applied to such a serial printer or horizontal printer, the deviation between the transported medium M and the recording position of the recording head can be obtained.

[0202] • The various functional units built within the control unit 120 are not limited to being implemented in software by a computer that executes the program. For example, they can also be implemented in hardware by electronic circuits such as FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or ASIC (application specific IC), or through the cooperation of software and hardware.

[0203] • The medium M is not limited to paper; it can also be a resin film or sheet, a composite film of resin and metal (laminated film), fabric, non-woven fabric, metal foil, metal film, ceramic sheet, etc.

[0204] • The recording device 11 is not limited to a multifunction printer, but can also be a printer that has a printer but no scanner.

[0205] • The recording device 11 is not limited to an inkjet printer, but can also be a click printer, a thermal transfer printer, or an electrophotographic printer.

[0206] The following describes the technical concepts and their effects based on the described embodiments and variations.

[0207] (A) A recording apparatus comprising: a medium mounting section capable of mounting a medium; a conveying section for conveying the medium mounted on the medium mounting section; a recording head for recording the medium; a medium detection section for detecting at least one of two side ends in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the medium conveyed from the medium mounting section; and a deviation acquisition section for acquiring a deviation of the medium relative to the recording head in the width direction based on the detection position of at least one side end detected by the medium detection section.

[0208] Based on this configuration, since the deviation of the conveyed medium and the recording head in the width direction can be obtained, it is possible to appropriately adjust and reduce the deviation of the medium and the recording head in the width direction.

[0209] (B) The recording device described above includes a flipping transport path that flips the medium after recording a first surface of the medium. The medium detection unit detects the side end of the medium during at least one of a first transport and a second transport. The first transport is the transport of the medium with the first surface as the recording surface, and the second transport is the transport of the medium on the flipping transport path and after flipping, with the second surface as the recording surface, which is the opposite side of the first surface. The deviation acquisition unit can also acquire the deviation of the medium at the side end and the recording head detected by the medium detection unit in the width direction.

[0210] According to this configuration, a first deviation and a second deviation can be obtained. The first deviation is the deviation in the width direction between the medium and the recording head when the medium is transported with the first surface as the recording surface, and the second deviation is the deviation in the width direction between the medium and the recording head when the medium is transported with the second surface as the recording surface. For example, at least one of the first deviation and the second deviation can be manually adjusted by a human-operated adjustment mechanism, or the control unit can adjust the recording position of the recording head in the width direction.

[0211] (C) The recording device described above may also include a display unit that displays information related to the deviation amount.

[0212] Based on this configuration, the user can see the deviation amount through the display unit. Adjustments can be made appropriately to reduce the deviation of the transported medium and recording head in the width direction.

[0213] (D) In ​​the above recording apparatus, the medium placement section may also include: a placement section body for placing the medium; a pair of edge guides assembled to the placement section body in a manner that allows movement relative to the placement section body in the width direction and guides the medium in a manner that allows positioning in the width direction; and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the assembly position of the pair of edge guides relative to the placement section body in the width direction.

[0214] According to this configuration, by adjusting the assembly position of a pair of edge guides in the width direction using an adjustment mechanism, it is possible to reduce the amount of deviation. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the deviation of the recording position of the recording head from the medium in the width direction.

[0215] (E) The above-described recording device may also include a control unit that adjusts the recording position of the recording head on the medium in the width direction by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation amount.

[0216] According to this configuration, the control unit adjusts the recording position of the recording head on the medium in the width direction. Therefore, for example, it is possible to eliminate manual operations performed by a person using the adjustment mechanism, or to reduce the frequency of manual operations.

[0217] (F) The media detection unit detects the side end of the medium being transported with the first surface as the recording surface and the side end of the medium being transported with the second surface as the recording surface. The deviation acquisition unit acquires a first deviation and a second deviation. The first deviation is the deviation between the medium being transported with the first surface as the recording surface and the recording head. The second deviation is the deviation between the medium being transported with the second surface as the recording surface and the recording head. The recording device may also include: a display unit that displays the first deviation; and a control unit that adjusts the recording position of the recording head in the width direction by an adjustment amount corresponding to the second deviation.

[0218] According to this configuration, a first deviation and a second deviation can be obtained. The first deviation is the deviation in the width direction between the medium and the recording head when the medium is conveyed with the first surface as the recording surface, and the second deviation is the deviation in the width direction between the medium and the recording head when the medium is conveyed with the second surface as the recording surface. The first deviation can be manually adjusted by a human-operated adjustment mechanism, and the second deviation can be automatically adjusted by adjusting the recording position of the recording head in the width direction by a control unit.

[0219] (G) The adjustment mechanism has a drive source, and the recording device may also have a control unit that controls the drive source to adjust the assembly position of the edge guide by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation amount.

[0220] This configuration enables the adjustment mechanism to be automated. Therefore, manual adjustments can be performed less frequently, or even eliminated altogether.

[0221] (H) In the above recording apparatus, the media detection unit is provided with a sensor that can move in the width direction at a position upstream of the nozzle of the recording head in the conveying direction. The deviation acquisition unit may also take the position where the sensor switches from non-detection to detection when the media detection unit performs a detection operation as a detection position of the side end. After a first cumulative value for the number of items detected by the sensor from that detection position for each unit position exceeds a threshold preset according to the media size, the position where detection is switched to non-detection is taken as another detection position of the side end.

[0222] Based on this configuration, false detections caused by foreign matter such as paper dust can be suppressed, and the positions of the two ends of the detection medium can be determined. Therefore, false detections due to deviation can be suppressed.

[0223] (I) In the above-described recording apparatus, the media detection unit is provided with a sensor that can move in the width direction at a position upstream of the nozzle of the recording head in the conveying direction. The deviation acquisition unit may also take the position where the sensor switches from non-detection to detection when the media detection unit performs a detection operation as a detection position of the side end. After measuring a first measurement value of the time or distance detected by the sensor from that detection position and finding that it exceeds a threshold preset according to the media size, the position where the detection is switched to non-detection is taken as another detection position of the side end.

[0224] Based on this configuration, false detections caused by foreign matter such as paper dust can be suppressed, and the positions of the two ends of the detection medium can be determined. Therefore, false detections due to deviation can be suppressed.

[0225] (J) A method for suppressing recording position deviation in a recording apparatus, the recording apparatus comprising: a medium placement section having a placement section body capable of placing a medium and a pair of edge guides for guiding the medium placed on the placement section body in a width direction; a transport section for transporting the medium placed on the medium placement section along a transport path; and a recording head for recording the medium, the method for suppressing recording position deviation in the recording apparatus for suppressing deviation of the transported medium and the recording position of the medium in the width direction, comprising: transporting the medium placed on the medium placement section; detecting at least one of two side ends in the width direction intersecting the transport path of the medium transported from the medium placement section; obtaining an amount of deviation of the medium relative to the recording head in the width direction based on the detected position of the at least one side end; and adjusting the assembly position of the edge guides relative to the placement section body in the width direction according to the amount of deviation.

[0226] According to this method, since the deviation of the conveyed medium and the recording head in the width direction can be obtained, it is possible to make appropriate adjustments to reduce the deviation of the medium and the recording head in the width direction.

Claims

1. A recording device, characterized in that, have: The medium carrying section is capable of carrying a medium; The conveying unit conveys the medium placed in the medium placement unit; A recording head for recording the medium; The medium detection unit detects at least one of two side ends in a width direction that intersects the delivery direction of the medium being delivered from the medium carrier unit. as well as The deviation acquisition unit acquires the deviation of the medium relative to the recording head in the width direction based on at least one side detection position detected by the medium detection unit. The medium carrier includes: The main body of the carrier section is for carrying the medium; A pair of edge guides having a first edge guide and a second edge guide are assembled to the mounting body in a manner that allows them to move relative to the mounting body in the width direction, and are guided in a manner that allows the medium to be positioned on the mounting body in the width direction. as well as The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the assembly position of the pair of edge guides relative to the main body of the mounting portion in the width direction according to the deviation amount. The adjustment mechanism has the following features: Screws are used to fix the assembly position of the pair of edge guides so that they cannot move in the width direction; The long support portion extends from the second edge guide toward the first edge guide along the width direction and protrudes behind the first edge guide toward the side opposite to the second edge guide; A pointer is formed at the front end of the support portion; as well as The scale is formed on the bottom surface of the medium carrier. By loosening or removing the screws, the assembly position of the pair of edge guides can be adjusted to move in the width direction. While observing the change in the position of the scale indicated by the pointer, adjust the assembly position of the pair of edge guides to move the offset amount in the width direction. When the adjustment of the assembly position of the pair of edge guides is completed, tighten the screw.

2. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The recording device includes a flipping transport path that flips the medium after recording the first side of the medium. The media detection unit detects the side end of the medium during at least one of the first and second conveying processes, wherein the first conveying is the conveying of the medium with the first surface as the recording surface, and the second conveying is the conveying of the medium on the flipping conveying path and after flipping, with the second surface, which is the opposite side of the first surface, as the recording surface. The deviation acquisition unit acquires the deviation of the medium at the side end and the recording head in the width direction detected by the medium detection unit.

3. The recording device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The recording device includes a display unit that displays information related to the deviation amount.

4. The recording device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The recording device includes a control unit that adjusts the recording position of the recording head on the medium in the width direction by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation amount.

5. The recording device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The medium detection unit detects the side end of the medium being transported with the first surface as the recording surface and the side end of the medium being transported with the second surface as the recording surface. The deviation acquisition unit acquires a first deviation and a second deviation. The first deviation is the deviation between the medium and the recording head being transported with the first surface as the recording surface, and the second deviation is the deviation between the medium and the recording head being transported with the second surface as the recording surface. The recording device includes: The display unit shows the first deviation amount; and The control unit adjusts the recording position of the recording head in the width direction by an adjustment amount corresponding to the second deviation amount.

6. The recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment mechanism has a drive source. The recording device includes a control unit that controls the drive source to adjust the assembly position of the edge guide by an adjustment amount corresponding to the deviation amount.

7. The recording device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The media detection unit has a sensor that can move in the width direction at a position upstream of the nozzle of the recording head in the transport direction. The deviation acquisition unit takes the position of the sensor when it switches from non-detection to detection during the detection operation of the medium detection unit as the detection position of the side end on one side. After the first cumulative value of the number detected by the sensor from the detection position for each unit position exceeds a threshold preset according to the medium size, the position when it switches from detection to non-detection is taken as the detection position of the other side end.

8. The recording device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The media detection unit has a sensor that is movable in the width direction at a position upstream of the nozzle of the recording head in the conveying direction. The deviation acquisition unit takes the position of the sensor when it switches from non-detection to detection during the detection operation of the medium detection unit as a detection position of the side end. After the first measurement value of the time or distance detected by the sensor from this detection position exceeds a threshold preset according to the medium size, the position when it switches from detection to non-detection is taken as another detection position of the side end.

9. A method for suppressing recording position deviation in a recording device, characterized in that, The recording device includes: The media placement unit has a placement unit body, an adjustment mechanism, and a pair of edge guides. The placement unit body is capable of holding a medium. The pair of edge guides, each having a first edge guide and a second edge guide, are assembled to the placement unit body in a way that allows them to move relative to the placement unit body in the width direction and guide the medium placed on the placement unit body in a way that allows them to be positioned in the width direction. The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the assembly position of the pair of edge guides relative to the placement unit body in the width direction according to the amount of deviation of the medium relative to the recording head in the width direction. The conveying unit conveys the medium placed in the medium-carrying unit along the conveying path; and The recording head records the medium. The adjustment mechanism has the following features: Screws are used to fix the assembly position of the pair of edge guides so that they cannot move in the width direction; The long support portion extends from the second edge guide toward the first edge guide along the width direction and protrudes behind the first edge guide toward the side opposite to the second edge guide; A pointer is formed at the front end of the support portion; as well as The scale is formed on the bottom surface of the medium carrier. The recording position deviation suppression method is used to suppress the deviation of the transported medium and the recording position of the medium in the width direction. The recording position deviation suppression method includes: The medium placed in the medium carrier is transported; Detect at least one of the two side ends in the width direction that intersect the transport path of the medium being transported from the medium carrier; The deviation amount is obtained based on the detected position of at least one of the side ends; and Loosen or remove the screws, and while observing the change in the position of the scale indicated by the pointer, adjust the assembly position of the pair of edge guides to move the offset amount in the width direction. When the adjustment of the assembly position of the pair of edge guides is finished, tighten the screws, thereby adjusting the assembly position of the edge guides relative to the mounting body in the width direction according to the offset amount.

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