Image processing device, image processing method and program

Abstract

To adjust recording position deviation between recording heads, with high accuracy.SOLUTION: An image processing device is configured to: obtain read images by reading patterns corresponding to a colored material and a colorless material respectively formed on a recording medium by recording heads; and determine an adjustment value for adjusting recording position deviation between the recording heads based on recognized results of the patterns in the read images, wherein reverse images in which densities of the read images are reversed are generated when the patterns in the read images cannot be recognized, and an adjustment value is determined based on the patterns in the generated reverse images.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to adjusting the recording position of a recording material. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known an inkjet recording device provided with a so-called full-line type recording head having a recording width equivalent to the width of the recording medium. In an inkjet recording device having such a recording head, an image can be printed on almost the entire surface of the recording medium by moving the recording head once relative to the recording medium. In a recording device provided with a full-line type recording head, an error may occur in the mounting position of the recording head or in the relative mounting positions of multiple recording heads. This error causes a deviation in the ink landing position (attachment position) on the recording medium, which causes a decrease in print quality. Hereinafter, the process of correcting such a deviation in the ink landing position will be referred to as "recording position adjustment."

[0003] Regarding a printing position adjustment method, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for adjusting a printing position based on an analysis result obtained by analyzing the results of reading a pattern formed on a printing medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-091304 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, depending on the type of recording medium, the shading of the background color may be inverted in the pattern corresponding to the colorless material for fixing the colored material, resulting in an analysis error for the read pattern. It is known that this phenomenon occurs due to the permeation characteristics of the recording medium with respect to the colorless material for recording the pattern, but it is difficult for the user to identify and set all of the above permeation characteristics.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to adjust the recording position deviation between recording heads with high accuracy, regardless of the permeability characteristics of the recording medium with respect to the colorless material used to fix the colored material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An image processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition means for acquiring a read image obtained by reading patterns corresponding to colored and colorless materials formed on a recording medium by a recording head, and a determination means for determining an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position misalignment between recording heads based on a recognition result of the pattern in the read image, wherein if the pattern in the read image cannot be recognized, the determination means generates an inverted image by inverting the density of the read image, and determines the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the technique of the present disclosure, it is possible to adjust the recording position deviation between recording heads with high accuracy, regardless of the permeability characteristics of the recording medium with respect to the colorless material used to fix the colored material. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a recording apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recording head lifting mechanism. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a test pattern for correcting print head position deviation. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a detailed layout of a pattern for pattern matching. [Figure 6] 3 is an explanatory diagram of the correspondence between a print chip, a discharge nozzle, and a pattern. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a color shift amount calculation pattern. [Figure 8] 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for calculating the amount of misalignment between nozzle rows. [Figure 9] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a method for calculating the amount of deviation between chips and the amount of head inclination. [Figure 10] 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for calculating the amount of misalignment between recording heads. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a mark detection process. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a recording position adjustment process. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram showing a pattern for calculating the amount of misalignment between print heads for clear ink and colored ink. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a recording position adjustment process. [Figure 15] 13 is a diagram showing a pattern for calculating the amount of misalignment between the recording heads on paper and film. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the components described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and the configuration and various conditions of the device to which the present disclosure is applied can be appropriately modified or changed within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure, and are not limited to the following embodiments. For example, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the following embodiments can be appropriately changed depending on the configuration and various conditions of the device to which the present disclosure is applied, and unless otherwise specified, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0011] [Embodiment 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a high-speed line printer that uses a continuous long sheet wound in a roll as a recording medium, as a recording device 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 1, the direction above the recording device 1 is defined as the "upper side", the direction from right to left is defined as the longitudinal direction, and the short side direction of the long sheet perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction (from front to back) is defined as the "sheet width direction".

[0012] The recording device 1 includes an unwinding roll unit 2, a first dancer unit 3, a first main conveyor unit 4, a meandering correction unit 5, a conveyor detection unit 6, a recording unit 7, a fixing unit 8, a conveyor tension detection unit 9, a recorded image position detection unit 10, a scanner unit 11, a second main conveyor unit 12, a second dancer unit 13, and a take-up roll unit 14. The recording device 1 further includes a maintenance unit 15. The fixing unit 8 includes a drying unit 40 and a cooling unit 50. The sheet S is conveyed along the conveyor path shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, and is processed in each unit.

[0013] The recording device 1 has a first recording process and a second recording process, which are arranged in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the sheet S along the conveying path of the sheet S. In the first recording process, an image fixed on the sheet S is recorded after passing through the first recording section 7a, the first drying section 40a, and the first cooling section 50a. In the second recording process, an image fixed on the sheet S after passing through the second recording section 7b, the second drying section 40b, and the second cooling section 50b is recorded. In this way, the recording device 1 can record images continuously on the sheet S by passing the sheet S through the first recording process and the second recording process. The recording device 1 can also determine the recording process to be selected alternatively depending on the recording conditions. In this case, the image is recorded on the sheet S only through the selected recording process.

[0014] In addition, in the transport of the sheet S, the transport of the sheet S in the direction from the unwinding roll unit 2 to the winding roll unit 14 is defined as forward transport, and the transport of the sheet S in the opposite direction, from the winding roll unit 14 to the unwinding roll unit 2, is defined as reverse transport.

[0015] The unwinding roll unit 2 holds and supplies the sheet. The unwinding roll unit 2 is configured to store an unwinding roll and pull out and supply the sheet S. The number of rolls that can be stored is not limited to one, but two or three or more rolls may be stored and the sheet S may be selectively pulled out and supplied. The unwinding roll unit 2 is independently controlled to rotate in both forward and reverse directions by a drive motor (not shown).

[0016] The first dancer unit 3 is a unit for applying a constant sheet tension between the unwinding roll unit 2 and the first main conveyor unit 4. The first dancer unit 3 applies sheet tension by a tension applying means (not shown).

[0017] The first main conveyor 4 feeds the sheet S to each section arranged in the following order along the conveying path. That is, the first main conveyor 4 feeds the sheet S to the first meandering correction section 5a, the first conveyor detection section 6a, the first recording section 7a, the first fixing section 8a, the conveyor tension detection section 9, the recorded image position detection section 10, the second fixing section 8b, and the scanner section 11. The first fixing section 8a includes a first drying section 40a and a first cooling section 50a. The second fixing section 8b includes a second drying section 40b and a second cooling section 50b. The first main conveyor 4 rotates by driving a motor (not shown) while applying sheet tension between the first main conveyor 4 and the second main conveyor 12, and conveys the sheet S under tension.

[0018] The meandering correction unit 5 corrects meandering in the sheet width direction during tension transport of the sheet S. In this embodiment, the meandering correction unit 5 has a first meandering correction unit 5a provided upstream of the first recording process in the transport path, and a second meandering correction unit 5b provided upstream of the second recording process. The meandering correction unit 5 is configured to include a meandering correction roller and a meandering detection sensor (not shown) that detects meandering of the sheet S. The meandering correction roller corrects meandering of the sheet S by changing the inclination with the sheet S using a motor (not shown) based on the measurement result of the meandering detection sensor. At this time, the sheet S is wrapped around the meandering correction roller, thereby improving the meandering correction function.

[0019] The transport detection unit 6 is a unit that detects the transport speed of the sheet S and a mark printed in advance on the sheet S in order to control the image formation timing of the recording unit 7. In this embodiment, the transport detection unit 6 has a first transport detection unit 6a provided upstream of the first recording step in the transport path, and a second transport detection unit 6b provided downstream of the first recording step and upstream of the second recording step. The transport speed of the sheet S and the mark detected by the first transport detection unit 6a are used to control the image formation timing of the first recording unit 7a. The transport speed of the sheet S and the mark detected by the second transport detection unit 6b are used to control the image formation timing of the second recording unit 7b.

[0020] The image forming section (recording section) 7 is composed of recording heads 22 for each ink color, which print from above on the conveyed sheet S for each color plate by an inkjet method. The conveying path in the image forming section (recording section) 7 is formed by guide rollers 23 arranged in an arc shape that is convex upward, and a certain tension is applied to the sheet S to ensure a clearance with the recording heads 22. The recording heads 22 are arranged along the conveying direction. The recording heads 22 are, for example, full-line type recording heads in which ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged over a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium. In this embodiment, the first recording section 7a has a total of two recording heads corresponding to W (white) ink and the reaction liquid. The second recording section 7b has a total of eight recording heads corresponding to the reaction liquid and three special colors in addition to the four colors of K (black), Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). The reaction liquid is a liquid containing a component that increases the viscosity of the ink. Here, the high viscosity of the ink refers to a state in which the coloring material, resin, etc. constituting the ink come into contact with a component that increases the viscosity of the ink, and undergo a chemical reaction or physical adsorption, resulting in an increase in the viscosity of the ink. The high viscosity of the ink is not limited to an increase in the viscosity of the entire ink, but also includes a local increase in viscosity due to partial aggregation of the components constituting the ink, such as the coloring material and resin. The component that increases the viscosity of the ink is not particularly limited to metal ions, polymer coagulants, etc., but a substance that causes a pH change in the ink and causes the coloring material in the ink to aggregate can be used, and an organic acid can be used. If a reaction liquid is applied before the ink is applied onto the sheet S, the ink that reaches the sheet S can be fixed immediately. This makes it possible to suppress bleeding, in which adjacent inks mix with each other. The color type and number of colors and the number of recording heads 22 are not limited. The inkjet method can be a method using a heating element, a method using a piezoelectric element, a method using an electrostatic element, a method using a MEMS element, etc. Each color of ink is supplied to the recording head 22 from an ink tank (not shown) through an ink tube.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet conveying unit housing 71 of the image forming unit (recording unit) 7 is provided with a plurality of positioning members 711 for positioning the recording head 22. The positioning members 711 are provided at the front and rear of each recording head 22 in the sheet width direction with the sheet S sandwiched therebetween, one at the front side and two at the rear side. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 22 is supported by a head holding unit 26 for holding the recording head 22 and lifting it up and down in such a manner that the head support shaft 27 is supported from below. The head holding unit 26 is lifted up and down along a lifting rail 29 provided in a recording head lifting frame 28 by a drive mechanism (not shown) provided inside. Also, in this embodiment, ink is applied onto the sheet S using a recording head of an inkjet recording method, but the method of applying ink onto the sheet in the recording unit 7 is not particularly limited to this.

[0022] The conveying tension detection unit 9 detects the tension during tension conveyance between the first main conveying unit 4 and the second main conveying unit 12. The recorded image position detection unit 10 is a unit that detects misalignment of the image formed on the sheet S by the image forming unit (recording unit) 7 during printing, and corrects the printing.

[0023] The winding guide roller R1 is a roller that winds the surface of the sheet S downstream in the transport direction opposite to the ink application surface with respect to the second recording unit 7b at a constant winding angle. In this embodiment, two winding guide rollers R1 are arranged between the second recording unit 7b and the second drying unit 40b, the sheet S is folded back approximately parallel to the top and bottom of the device, and the second drying unit 40b is arranged below the second recording unit 7b.

[0024] The drying section 40 has a first drying section 40a arranged downstream of the first recording section 7a in the sheet conveying direction, and a second drying section 40b arranged downstream of the second recording section 7b in the sheet conveying direction. The first drying section 40a and the second drying section 40b reduce the liquid content contained in the ink ejected onto the sheet S by the first recording section 7a and the second recording section 7b, respectively, and improve the fixation of the sheet S and the ink. The first drying section 40a and the second drying section 40b blow air onto the recorded sheet S to dry the ink applied to the sheet S. Inside the first drying section 40a and the second drying section 40b, air is applied to the sheet S passing through at least from the ink application side to dry the ink application side of the sheet S. Note that the drying method may be configured by combining a method of applying air, a method of irradiating the surface of the sheet S with electromagnetic waves (ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, etc.), and a conductive heat transfer method by contact with a heating element.

[0025] The cooling section 50 has a first cooling section 50a arranged downstream of the first drying section 40a in the sheet conveying direction, and a second cooling section 50b arranged downstream of the second drying section 40b in the sheet conveying direction. The first cooling section 50a and the second cooling section 50b cool the sheet S on which the ink has been fixed in the first drying section 40a and the second drying section 40b, respectively, to solidify the softened ink and suppress the temperature change amount of the sheet S in the downstream process of the recording device. Inside the first cooling section 50a and the second cooling section 50b, air having a lower temperature than the sheet S is applied to at least the ink application surface side of the sheet S passing through, thereby cooling the ink application surface of the sheet S. The cooling method is not limited to the method of applying air, and may be a conductive heat transfer method by contact with a heat dissipation member or a combination thereof.

[0026] The scanner unit 11 is a unit that reads a test image formed on a sheet S by the recording unit 7 before actual printing, detects image misalignment and density based on the test image obtained by reading it, and corrects the actual printing.

[0027] The second main conveying section 12 conveys the sheet S together with the first main conveying section 4 while applying tension to the sheet S, and adjusts the tension of the sheet S. The second main conveying section 12 is rotated by being driven by a motor (not shown), and a tension control section (not shown) controls the speed of the second main conveying section 12 according to the tension value detected by the conveying tension detection section 9. Note that, as an additional configuration for adjusting the tension of the sheet S, a configuration for adjusting the tension of the sheet S by a clutch (not shown) capable of controlling the torque connected to the drive may be added. In this case, there are two tension control methods: a torque control method for controlling the torque value transmitted from the clutch, and a speed control method for controlling the roller speed of the second main conveying section 12. The tension control methods can be switched according to the purpose, or both can be used simultaneously.

[0028] The second dancer section 13 applies a constant sheet tension between the second main conveyor section 12 and the winding roll section 14. The second dancer section 13 applies sheet tension by a tension applying means (not shown).

[0029] The winding roll unit 14 winds the sheet S after the recording process onto a core. The number of rolls that can be collected from the winding roll unit 14 is not limited to one, and the winding roll unit 14 may have two cores or three or more cores, and may be configured to selectively switch between them to collect the sheet S. The winding roll unit 14 is independently controlled to rotate forward and reverse by a drive motor (not shown). The sheet S is conveyed in the forward direction by controlling the drive motor (not shown) of the unwinding roll unit 2 and the winding roll unit 14 to rotate forward. The sheet S is conveyed in the reverse direction by controlling the drive motor (not shown) of the unwinding roll unit 2 and the winding roll unit 14 to rotate in the reverse direction. In the case of reverse conveyance, tension conveyance is performed between the first main conveyance unit 4 and the second main conveyance unit 12 as in the case of forward conveyance. Depending on the contents of the processing after printing, the sheet S may be cut and stacked using a cutter instead of being wound onto a core.

[0030] The control unit 31 includes a calculation device such as a CPU, and a storage device such as a memory (RAM and ROM) and a HDD, and the calculation device executes a program stored in the storage device to centrally control the above-mentioned units and realize the operation flow described below. The control unit 31 also includes an external interface and an operation unit 32 through which the user performs input and output. The operation of the printing device (recording device) 1 is controlled based on commands from a host device 33 such as a host computer connected via the operation unit 21 or the external interface.

[0031] The maintenance unit 15 has a cap mechanism for protecting the ink ejection surface of the recording head 22, a wiper mechanism for wiping the ink ejection surface, and a suction mechanism for negatively sucking the ink in the recording head 22 from the ink ejection surface, thereby maintaining the performance of the recording head 22. The maintenance unit 15 also has a drive mechanism and rails (not shown) and is capable of reciprocating horizontally along the rails. When performing maintenance on the recording head, the maintenance unit 15 moves to a position immediately below the recording head, and when maintenance is not performed, the maintenance unit 15 moves to a position retracted from immediately below the recording head. In this embodiment, the maintenance unit 15 has a first maintenance unit 15a corresponding to the first recording unit 7a and a second maintenance unit 15b corresponding to the second recording unit 7b.

[0032] The roller R2 is a driven roller arranged downstream in the transport direction from the first fixing portion 8a, and the roller R3 is a driven roller arranged downstream in the transport direction from the second fixing portion 8b.

[0033] [Method of correcting recording head misalignment] 4 is a diagram for explaining a test pattern for correcting misalignment of a print head according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a sheet S is used as a recording medium S to record a test pattern 402 for correcting misalignment of a head. Note that, here, the area in which the test pattern fits is described as one page, but as described above, the sheet S is continuous and this area is not cut out. A nozzle row direction 403 indicates the nozzle arrangement direction of the print head 22. In other words, the nozzle row direction 403 corresponds to the Y direction shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] 1, the recording device 1 is equipped with a plurality of recording heads 22. Each recording head corresponds to the colored inks W (white), K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow), as well as to a reaction liquid (primer) which is a colorless and transparent ink. The recording head 22 may be an empty socket in which no recording head exists, or may correspond to special colors such as G (gray), LM (light magenta), and LC (light cyan).

[0035] The scanner unit 11 is disposed downstream of the recording head 22 in the transport direction of the recording medium S. The scanner unit 11 reads a test pattern 402 recorded on the recording medium S to detect the amount of misalignment of the recording head 22.

[0036] Each recording head 22 of the recording device 1 is composed of a plurality of recording chips, and one of the recording chips is a recording chip 404. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which one recording chip is configured in the shape of a parallelogram. In the recording head 22, 17 recording chips 404 are arranged along the nozzle row direction 403, but the number of recording chips is not limited to this and may be more or less. The nozzle row direction 403 corresponds to the width direction 203 shown in FIG. 2. A plurality of nozzle rows 405 are arranged in the recording chip 404. In this embodiment, 16 nozzle rows 405 are arranged in the recording chip 404, but the number of rows is not limited to this and may be changed. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in the recording chip 404, the nozzle rows 405 are arranged so as to be at a predetermined angle with respect to the transport direction. In addition, the end of the nozzle row 405 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the transport direction.

[0037] Types of head position deviation are explained below. All of these deviations are caused by errors in the formation of the chips or nozzles of the recording head 22, or errors in the installation of the recording head 22. Types of deviation include misalignment between nozzle rows 405 in the recording chip 404, misalignment between chips between the recording chips 404, and misalignment between colors between the recording heads 22. When such deviations exist, the landing position of the ink droplets deviates from the ideal position, deteriorating the quality of the recorded image. Head position deviation correction is a function that corrects the landing position of the ink by changing the ink ejection timing of the recording chip 404 or the nozzle that ejects the ink.

[0038] In this embodiment, regarding misalignment in the direction perpendicular to the nozzle row direction 403 (transport direction 201), the positional misalignment of dots formed is corrected by changing the ejection timing of each of the print chips 404 that make up the print head 22. Regarding misalignment in the nozzle row direction 403, the positional misalignment is corrected by changing the ejection data.

[0039] The test pattern 402 is a test pattern for correcting head position deviation of the recording head 22. The test pattern 402 includes test patterns 406 to 410 for five heads corresponding to the five recording heads 22. Each of the test patterns 406 to 410 is used to detect the amount of position deviation corresponding to each recording head 22. Using these test patterns, the amount of row deviation between the nozzle rows of the recording chips of the corresponding recording head 22 and the amount of chip deviation between the recording chips are calculated. In this embodiment, the test patterns 406 to 410 are test patterns corresponding to the recording heads 22 of K, C, M, Y, and primer ink, respectively. The number of test patterns for the recording heads 22 included in the test pattern 402 may be increased or decreased from five heads, and the order of the test patterns may be changed. Therefore, the number of test patterns may vary depending on the number of recording heads 22 to be tested. Also, the test pattern 411 is a test pattern for calculating the amount of color deviation between the recording heads 22. The test pattern 411 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7.

[0040] In this embodiment, Fig. 4 shows a pattern 414 obtained by enlarging a portion of the test pattern 406 corresponding to the ink color K. Enlarged patterns (not shown) of test patterns 407 to 409 corresponding to the ink colors C, M, and Y also have the same configuration as the test pattern 406. Also shown is a pattern 415 obtained by enlarging a portion of the test pattern 410 corresponding to the primer ink. Note that these patterns are merely examples, and the correspondence between each test pattern and the ink color may be changed depending on the type of recording head 22.

[0041] Pattern 415 uses a larger pattern than pattern 414. In addition, the following process is performed to ensure detection accuracy even if the brightness value difference between the base color of the recording medium S and the primer ink alone, which is the recording material, is small. That is, K ink is printed uniformly over the entire surface of the hatched area of ​​pattern 415, including the area overlapping with the detection mark 420, alignment mark 421, and pattern matching pattern 423. This causes a detection brightness difference to occur at the detection mark 420, alignment mark 421, and pattern matching pattern 423 of the primer ink. In addition, pattern 416 corresponds to one recording chip 404 included in the recording head of the ink colors K, C, M, and Y, and pattern 419 corresponds to one recording chip 404 included in the recording head of the primer ink.

[0042] In each of the patterns 414 and 415, the areas represented in black are areas printed with the corresponding ink, while the areas represented in white are areas that are not printed with ink, which is the background color of the printing medium S.

[0043] The print head 22 has a configuration in which a plurality of print chips 404 are linearly arranged along the nozzle row direction 403. For each print chip 404 constituting the print head 22, a pattern 416 or a pattern 419 corresponding to the print chip 404 is printed linearly in parallel with the nozzle row direction 403.

[0044] The configuration and printing method of the pattern 416 and pattern 419 corresponding to the recording chip 404 will be described. One pattern 416 corresponding to one recording chip 404 used in the recording head 22 that ejects color ink is configured to include a detection mark 417, an alignment mark 418, and a pattern matching pattern 422. Also, one pattern 419 corresponding to one recording chip 404 used in the recording head 22 that ejects primer ink is configured to include a detection mark 420, an alignment mark 421, and a pattern matching pattern 423.

[0045] The detection marks 417 and 420 are used in the image analysis process to detect a pattern corresponding to the recording chip 404 in the read image. The detection marks 417 and 420 are patterns recorded in the shape of a rectangular area as shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, as described above, the recording chip is composed of multiple nozzle rows. The detection marks 417 and 420 are patterns recorded by ink ejection from multiple nozzle rows. By recording using multiple nozzle rows, even if there is a nozzle that is defective in ejection, ink is ejected from nozzles in other nozzle rows, so that defects in the detection pattern due to the defective nozzle are reduced. This allows the detection mark to be stably detected in the image analysis process.

[0046] In the image analysis process, the alignment marks 418, 421 are used to calculate the reference positions of the analysis areas of the pattern matching patterns 422, 423. The alignment marks 418, 421 are recorded in the shape of a rectangular area as shown in Fig. 4. The alignment marks 418, 421 are recorded by ejecting ink from multiple nozzle rows for each of the pattern matching patterns 422, 423 corresponding to the nozzle rows.

[0047] The pattern matching patterns 422 and 423 are patterns for detecting, in the image analysis process, the positional deviation of the recording head 22. The pattern matching patterns 422 and 423 are used differently depending on the recording color and the type of deviation amount to be calculated.

[0048] In a pattern formed with primer ink, the signal difference in the luminance value between the base color and the recording color (transparent color) of the recording medium S is unlikely to occur. In other words, it is difficult to detect the difference in luminance value between the base and the ink. Therefore, in this embodiment, for clear ink, positional deviation is detected using a pattern matching pattern 423, which is a pattern larger than the pattern matching pattern 422.

[0049] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a detailed layout of the pattern matching patterns 422 and 423. In Fig. 5, reference numeral 501 indicates the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the pattern matching pattern 422, and reference numeral 502 indicates the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the pattern matching pattern 422. Reference numeral 503 indicates the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the pattern matching pattern 423, and reference numeral 504 indicates the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the pattern matching pattern 423.

[0050] In this embodiment, the reference symbol 501 in the pattern matching pattern 422 is parallel to the transport direction 201, the reference symbol 502 is parallel to the nozzle row direction 403, and both are 82 pixels in 1200 DPI (dots per inch) units. Also, the reference symbol 503 in the pattern matching pattern 423 is parallel to the transport direction 201, and the reference symbol 504 is parallel to the nozzle row direction 403, and both are 210 pixels in 1200 DPI units.

[0051] The number of pixels constituting each pattern matching pattern is not limited to the above, and other values ​​may be used. As shown in FIG.

[0052] 6 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the patterns 416, 419 and the ejection nozzles corresponding to one recording chip 404. Note that the other recording chips constituting the recording head 22 have the same configuration as the recording chip 404.

[0053] The recording chip 404 has a plurality of nozzle rows 405, and in this embodiment, 24 nozzle rows 405 are arranged on one recording chip 404. A test pattern for one recording chip 404 is recorded using nozzles within the range indicated by dashed lines 607-608, among the nozzle rows of the recording chip 404. This range may differ depending on the configuration of the recording chip 404.

[0054] The pattern matching patterns included in the pattern 416 for one recording chip 404 are provided corresponding to each of the multiple nozzle arrays. Here, the pattern matching patterns are printed using the nozzle arrays with the corresponding numbers. That is, pattern matching patterns 0 to 23 are provided for the 24 nozzle arrays. Depending on the arrangement of the nozzle patterns in the layout 601, the pattern matching pattern indicated by "0" (i.e., the nozzle array to which "0" is assigned) is used as a reference, and the positional deviation is calculated from the relative position of each of the remaining nozzles. As an exception, a pattern matching pattern 602 is provided. This is a pattern matching pattern printed by the nozzle array to which "20" is assigned among the nozzles included in the recording chip 404 to the left. Note that the nozzle array of the adjacent recording chip to which the pattern matching pattern 602 is printed is not limited to the nozzle array to which "20" is assigned, and may vary depending on the number of nozzle arrays constituting the recording chip 404, the shape of the recording chip 404, and the like.

[0055] Since the pattern matching pattern 602 is not a pattern printed by the printing chip itself, it is not used in calculating the positional deviation of the nozzle array within the printing chip itself. One pattern 416 is printed per printing chip 404, and the positional deviation due to manufacturing errors in the printing chip 404 and the inclination of the print head 22 are calculated from one of the pattern matching patterns for one nozzle in the printing chip 404. The deviation between the printing chips and the inclination of the print head 22 are calculated using the printing chip corresponding to the pattern 416 printed on the printing medium S one pattern inside from the left or right end as the reference chip.

[0056] It should be noted that the size of the recording medium S is variable. Therefore, the pattern 416 may be recorded in a missing state at the left or right end of the recording medium S. In the case of such a pattern, if the pattern is recorded with a length equal to or longer than the detection mark 603, the pattern matching pattern 604 is selected as the pattern for calculation at the right end, and the pattern matching pattern 602 is selected as the pattern for calculation at the left end.

[0057] Depending on the print head, the test pattern for one print chip may be a layout in which, instead of pattern 416, there are only pattern matching patterns 422 at both ends, as shown in pattern 609. In this case, each of the pattern matching patterns 422 corresponds to a nozzle in the layout 605. The P in the layout 605 means that the pattern matching pattern 422 is printed by multiple nozzles, and this is used to calculate the inclination of the print head.

[0058] Each pattern matching pattern 423 of one pattern 419 of the printing chip 404 corresponds to a nozzle that prints an area 606. The P in the area 606 means that the pattern matching pattern 423 is printed by multiple nozzles, and this is used to calculate the inclination of the print head.

[0059] The patterns 416 and 423 for one recording chip 404 are recorded by shifting the recording timing onto the recording medium S by an amount that takes into account the intersection of the manufacturing error of the nozzles and the manufacturing error of the recording chip, thereby preventing overlapping of the test patterns due to this error.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the test pattern and the recording chip 404 for performing color misalignment correction calculation between the recording heads 22. The test pattern 701 is a test pattern for calculating the position error between the recording heads 22. The pattern is recorded by the recording heads of each recording color shown in the layout 702. In each recording head, one recording chip 404 is selected to be used for recording the pattern, and in this case, the recording chip at the position of the recording chip 703 in each recording head is selected. In this embodiment, the pattern is recorded using the recording chip 703. In the test pattern 701, the areas represented in black are the areas of the pattern recorded with the corresponding recording color (ink), and the areas represented in white are the areas of the paper white (base) of the recording medium S. The hatched areas indicate the areas filled with K ink (covering the pattern area T described later).

[0061] In this embodiment, a pattern matching pattern 422 is used for printing with each ink indicated by K, C, M, and Y. A pattern matching pattern 423 is used for printing the primer ink indicated by T. As shown in layout 702, a pattern is printed using a print head that ejects K ink as a reference head, and the positional deviation of each print head is calculated. The pattern of the reference head uses a pattern similar to the pattern matching pattern of the printing color for which the deviation is to be calculated. An inverted pattern K (underlined) is used, with the periphery of the pattern filled in. The pattern matching patterns corresponding to the colors are not limited to those shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, and different patterns may be used.

[0062] The test pattern 701 used to calculate the color misalignment between the recording heads 22 is recorded by shifting the recording timing on the recording medium S by more than the maximum misalignment amount between the recording heads. By shifting the recording timing of each recording head in this way, overlapping of the test patterns is prevented.

[0063] (Calculation of the amount of misalignment between nozzle rows) 8 is a diagram showing a method for calculating the amount of misalignment between nozzle arrays. In this embodiment, 24 nozzle arrays are arranged in one recording chip 404. Here, the nozzle arrays are numbered such that the first nozzle array counting from the downstream side in the conveying direction 201 of the recording medium is numbered 0 and the last nozzle array is numbered 23. Hereinafter, these nozzle arrays will be referred to as nozzle array 0 to nozzle array 23, respectively.

[0064] A method for calculating the amount of misalignment between nozzle arrays will be described using a scanned image obtained by reading with a scanner a pattern printed according to a test pattern layout 601. In the test pattern layout 601, the numbers shown in each rectangle indicate the number of the nozzle array used in printing the pattern for pattern matching. For example, pattern matching pattern 805 indicates that it was printed using nozzle array 0. Hereinafter, a printed pattern using nozzle array x will be referred to as a "row x pattern."

[0065] Test pattern layout 601 is divided into four regions 801 to 804. In region 801, row 0 patterns 805 and 806 are used as references. Similarly, in regions 802, 803, and 804, row 0 patterns 807 and 808, row 0 patterns 809 and 810, and row 0 patterns 811 and 812 are used as references, respectively. In each of regions 801 to 804, the amount of deviation from the printing patterns using other nozzle rows is calculated using the two row 0 patterns as references.

[0066] As an example, we will describe a method for calculating the amount of misalignment between nozzle rows 0 and 9. Printed pattern 814 corresponds to row 0 pattern 805 in area 801, and printed pattern 815 corresponds to row 0 pattern 806 in area 801, and they are both reference row 0 patterns. Printed pattern 816 is the row 9 pattern printed in area 801.

[0067] When each pattern is printed by nozzle array 0 and nozzle array 9, if there is absolutely no deviation in the landing position of the ejected ink, then row 9 pattern will be printed on the straight line connecting printed pattern 814 and printed pattern 815. If there is absolutely no deviation in the landing position, row 9 pattern 818 will be printed in the ideal position. Meanwhile, the actual printing position of the row 9 pattern is shown as printed pattern 816.

[0068] The amount of deviation between recording pattern 816 and recording pattern 818 is the amount of positional deviation of nozzle row 9 relative to nozzle row 0. The amount of deviation is expressed as horizontal component deviation 817 and vertical component deviation 819. Vertical component deviation 819 is the length of a perpendicular line drawn from recording pattern 816 to a straight line connecting recording pattern 814 and recording pattern 815. Therefore, vertical component deviation 819 can be calculated from the positions of recording pattern 814, recording pattern 815, and recording pattern 816. Similarly, horizontal component deviation 817 can also be found from these positions.

[0069] By applying the method described above, the amount of deviation of the row 1 pattern to the row 23 pattern can be calculated with the row 0 pattern as a reference, and the amount of positional deviation of the nozzle rows 1 to 23 with respect to the nozzle row 0 can be obtained.

[0070] (Calculation of the amount of misalignment between recording chips and the amount of inclination of the recording head) 9 is a diagram for explaining a method for calculating the amount of misalignment between the printing chips 404 and the amount of inclination of the print head 22. In this embodiment, 36 printing chips 404 are arranged in one print head 22, and the first printing chip counting from the back side of the device is numbered as printing chip 0 and the last is numbered as printing chip 35. In FIG. 9, the right side is the back side of the device, and the left side is the front side of the device. A method for calculating the amount of misalignment between the printing chips using a scanned image obtained by reading a printed pattern by a scanner according to the layout 601 of the pattern 416 will be explained with reference to FIG. 9.

[0071] Each of the recording patterns 901 to 903 is a recording pattern recorded according to the layout 601 using three recording chips in the recording head 22. Depending on the size and transport error of the recording medium S, some recording chips do not record on the recording medium S. Hereinafter, a pattern recorded on the recording medium S using the recording chip x is referred to as a "chip x pattern."

[0072] The recording pattern 901 is a pattern recorded on the recording medium S by the recording chip one position to the right from the left end. The recording chip number used to record the recording pattern 901 varies depending on the size of the recording medium S, etc. In this embodiment, the recording pattern 901 is the chip 34 pattern. The recording pattern 902 is a pattern recorded on the recording medium S by the recording chip one position to the left from the right end. In this embodiment, the recording pattern 902 is the chip 1 pattern. The recording pattern 903 shows the layout 601 of the pattern corresponding to the recording chip for which the deviation amount between chips is to be calculated. As an example, the recording chip 18 will be described. The recording chip 18 here is the recording chip located at the center of the recording chip row in the recording head 22.

[0073] Printing pattern 907 is a pattern of printing pattern 901 printed using nozzle array 0 of printing chip 34. Printing pattern 908 is a pattern of printing pattern 902 printed using nozzle array 0 of printing chip 1. The printing chips on which these patterns are printed are reference chips for calculating the misalignment between the printing chips. Printing pattern 911 is a pattern printed using nozzle array 0 of printing chip 18, and is the chip for which the amount of misalignment between the printing chips is calculated.

[0074] If there is absolutely no deviation in landing position when each printing pattern is printed by nozzle array 0 of printing chip 1, printing chip 18, and printing chip 34, the chip 18 pattern is printed by printing chip 18 on the straight line connecting printing pattern 907 and printing pattern 908. The position of the chip 18 pattern printed at an ideal position with absolutely no deviation in landing position of the ejected ink is shown as printing pattern 912. Meanwhile, the actual printing position of the array 18 pattern is shown as printing pattern 911.

[0075] The amount of deviation between the recording patterns 911 and 912 is assumed to be a deviation in the relative position between the straight line connecting the recording chip 1 and the recording chip 34 and the recording chip 18, and the deviation is set as a deviation 914. The deviation 914 is the length of a perpendicular line drawn from the recording pattern 911 to the straight line connecting the recording patterns 907 and 908. Therefore, the deviation 914 can be obtained from the positions of the recording patterns 907, 908, and 911. In addition, the deviation 913 can be obtained by obtaining the distance between a line passing through the recording pattern 911 and a line passing through the recording pattern 912, which are perpendicular to the straight line connecting the recording patterns 907 and 908. Therefore, the deviation in the direction perpendicular to the straight line connecting the recording patterns 907 and 908 can also be used for recording position correction.

[0076] By applying the method described above, the two recording chips at the left and right ends are set as reference chips, and the deviation amount from the other recording chips sandwiched between them can be calculated with respect to the line connecting the reference chips. However, the calculation method is different for the left and right end recording chips on the further end side than the two reference chips (recording chip 34 and recording chip 1 in the example shown).

[0077] In this example, the left end of the two recording chips used as the reference line is recording chip 34, and the right end is recording chip 1, so recording chip 35 at the left end is recording pattern 911 to be adjusted, and recording chip 0 at the right end is recording pattern 911 to be adjusted. The left end recording chip calculates the amount of deviation using pattern matching pattern 604 of layout 601, just like the other recording chips. On the other hand, the right end recording chip uses pattern matching pattern 602 formed by the recording chip adjacent to the left, rather than pattern matching pattern 604. This is because there is a possibility that the recording chip at the end can only record layout 601 up to a certain length on recording medium S.

[0078] Depending on the length of the recording medium S, there is a possibility that a recording chip may exist outside the recording chip at the left end or the recording chip at the right end of the recording range. These recording chips cannot be recorded on the recording medium S, and therefore it is impossible to detect the pattern. Therefore, the outer recording chip on the left end uses the deviation amount of the adjacent chip to the right as the correction value. Similarly, the outer recording chip on the right end uses the deviation amount of the adjacent chip to the left as the correction value.

[0079] A method for calculating the amount of tilt of the print head 22 using a scanned image of a pattern printed according to the layout 601 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. The amount of tilt of the print head 22 is calculated using a pattern similar to the pattern used to calculate the amount of deviation between the print chips 404. The amount of tilt of the print head 22 is defined as the amount of deviation relative to a reference head, and the amount of tilt correction is calculated for each print head other than the reference head.

[0080] Reference numeral 906 is a diagram for explaining a method for calculating the tilt amount of the recording head 22. First, the tilt amount of the reference head is calculated. Recording patterns 907 and 908 are recording patterns formed by the reference chips on the left and right end sides described above. Angle 1516 indicates the angle between the straight line connecting recording patterns 907 and 908 and an ideal line with no impact position deviation due to the tilt of the recording head 22, and indicates the tilt amount of the reference head.

[0081] Next, the amount of tilt of the print head to be corrected is calculated. In the print head to be corrected, print patterns 909 and 910 are print patterns formed by the reference chips on the left and right ends described above. Angle 1517 indicates the angle between the straight line connecting print patterns 909 and 910 and an ideal line with no impact position deviation due to the tilt of print head 22, and indicates the amount of tilt of the print head to be corrected.

[0082] Finally, the amount of calculation required for the inclination correction of the print head to be corrected is calculated. The amount of inclination of the print head to be corrected can be calculated by the following formula. The amount of inclination of the print head here is represented in degrees.

[0083] Amount of inclination of the recording head to be corrected = angle 1517 - angle 1516 In this embodiment, the recording head 22 that records K among the recording heads 22 is set as the reference head. By applying the method described above, it is possible to obtain the amount of inclination of each of the other recording heads relative to the reference head (the recording head for K).

[0084] (Calculation of the amount of misalignment between recording heads (misalignment between colors)) 10 is a diagram for explaining a method for calculating the amount of misalignment between each print head. In this embodiment, the first print head counting from the downstream side in the transport direction 201 of the print medium S that ejects K ink is referred to as print head K, and the print heads that eject C ink, M ink, and Y ink are referred to as print head C, print head M, and print head Y, respectively. In addition, the print head that ejects clear ink is referred to as print head T. A method for calculating the amount of misalignment between each print head (hereinafter referred to as "inter-color misalignment") using a scanned image obtained by reading, with a scanner, a pattern printed according to a layout 702 for a test pattern 701 will be explained.

[0085] The test pattern 701 is a test pattern used to calculate the amount of misalignment between colors. The test pattern 701 is printed using a printing chip 703 at a predetermined position of the print head 22, which corresponds to a predetermined color shown in the layout 702. In this embodiment, the chip 18 is used as the printing chip 703 at the predetermined position. The printing patterns 1001 to 1010 are printed by a reference head, and in this embodiment, are patterns printed by the print head K. The patterns of the other printing colors are colors that are the subject of calculation of the misalignment between the print heads. In this embodiment, these patterns are patterns of C, M, Y, and T (primer ink), but the number of printing colors may be increased or decreased. In this embodiment, an area is secured for patterns by other print heads.

[0086] In this embodiment, the C head, M head, and Y head perform recording using the configuration of the pattern matching pattern 422 shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the corresponding K recording patterns 1001 to 1006 of the reference patterns are also recorded using the configuration of the pattern matching pattern 422.

[0087] On the other hand, the recording pattern 1017 made with primer ink is recorded using the configuration of the pattern matching pattern 423 shown in Fig. 5. Therefore, the recording patterns 1007, 1008, 1009, and 1010, which are the corresponding K patterns of the reference pattern, are recorded using the configuration of the inverted pattern K (underlined) in which the pattern matching pattern 423 is whitened, as also described in Fig. 7. The reference head and the head for which color misalignment is calculated use patterns for pattern matching of the same size.

[0088] In this embodiment, when calculating the amount of deviation between the print head K (reference head) and the other print heads, the same method is used for each print head. Here, as an example, a method for calculating the amount of deviation between the print head K and the print head T (primer ink) will be described.

[0089] Recording pattern 1020 corresponds to recording pattern 1007, and recording pattern 1021 corresponds to recording pattern 1008. These are patterns of a reference head recorded by the recording chip 18 of recording head K. Recording pattern 1022 corresponds to recording pattern 1017, and is a pattern recorded by the recording chip 18 of recording head T, and is a recording pattern recorded by the recording head for which the deviation amount is to be calculated.

[0090] The patterns are arranged so that when each recording pattern is recorded by recording head K and recording head T, if there is absolutely no deviation in the landing position of the ejected ink, the recording pattern of recording head T will be recorded on the straight line connecting recording pattern 1020 and recording pattern 1021. The position of the recording pattern of recording head T recorded at an ideal position with absolutely no deviation in the landing position of the ejected ink is shown as recording pattern 1024. Meanwhile, the actual recording position of the column 18 pattern is shown as recording pattern 1022.

[0091] In this embodiment, the deviation between the recording pattern 1022 and the recording pattern 1024 in the scanned image is assumed to be a relative positional deviation of the recording head T with respect to the recording head K, and the amount of deviation is assumed to be a deviation 1025. The deviation 1025 is the length of a perpendicular line drawn to the recording pattern 1022, which is perpendicular to the straight line connecting the recording patterns 1020 and 1021. Therefore, the deviation 1025 can be obtained from the positions of the recording patterns 1020, 1021, and 1022. In addition, the distance between a line passing through the recording pattern 1022 and a line passing through the recording pattern 1024, which are perpendicular to the straight line connecting the recording patterns 1020 and 1021, is obtained. This makes it possible to obtain a deviation 1026 between the recording patterns 1024 and 1022. In this embodiment, the correction amount for the recording head position deviation is also calculated in a direction perpendicular to the deviation 1025. Therefore, the head position deviation amount is calculated by calculating the correction amount in both directions for the deviation amount 1025 and the deviation amount 1026 .

[0092] By applying the method described above, it is possible to obtain the amount of color misregistration for each of the recording heads other than recording head K with respect to the reference head.

[0093] (Mark detection process) 11 is a diagram for explaining the process of detecting marks corresponding to the recording chip 404. In this embodiment, the process of detecting the detection marks of each pattern corresponding to the recording chip 404 from the read image of the test pattern for calculating the amount of deviation will be explained. FIG. 11 shows the patterns corresponding to each recording chip, such as the pattern 416 shown in FIG. 6.

[0094] In this embodiment, there are three types of patterns corresponding to the recording chip 404, the patterns 416, 419, and 609 shown in Fig. 6, but the detection process is performed in the same manner for all of them. The detection process is also similar for the test pattern 701 shown in Fig. 7 for calculating the position error between the recording heads 22. As an example, the pattern 416 shown in Fig. 6 will be used for explanation.

[0095] The mark detection process is roughly divided into three steps. In the first step, the detection mark 417 is detected. Based on the detected position of the detection mark 417, the position of the test pattern of one recording chip 404 is estimated.

[0096] In the second step, an alignment mark 1103 is detected based on the estimated position of the test pattern in the first step. Since the alignment mark 1103 is the pattern 416 in Fig. 6 as an example, it is a mark similar to the alignment mark 418. Since this alignment mark 1103 is recorded in the vicinity of each pattern matching pattern, the position of the corresponding pattern matching pattern is estimated from the detected position of the alignment mark 1103.

[0097] In the third step, pattern position detection is performed using pattern matching based on the estimated position of the pattern for pattern matching in the second step. Since the area 1104 is the pattern 416 in FIG.

[0098] The process of detecting the detection mark 417 in the first step will be described. This process uses the luminance value of the channel that has the highest density of the recording color of the recording head of the pattern to be detected, out of the three RGB channels of the read image that the inspection unit 9B can read. For example, if the color with the highest density is C (cyan), the R channel is used, if it is M (magenta), the G channel is used, and if it is Y (yellow), the B channel is used. Note that in the case of a recording color that has a high density in all channels, such as K (black), one of the channels is specified and used.

[0099] Reference numeral 1105 denotes an enlarged view of a portion of the detection mark 417. The detection mark 417 is detected based on the average density of a predetermined region of the scanned image. A detection mark detection region 1106 is a region where the average density is acquired. If the average density acquired in the detection mark detection region 1106 is equal to or greater than a predetermined density, the region is identified as a detection mark region, and its center position is set as a detection mark detection position 1107. The range of the detection mark detection region and the predetermined density used as a threshold value may be changed.

[0100] Next, the upper left and upper right corner positions of the detection mark 417 are detected. Reference numeral 1108 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the upper left corner of the detection mark 417, and reference numeral 1110 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the upper right corner. An area having a predetermined density or more is scanned from the detection mark detection position 1107, and the upper left corner of the area having a predetermined density or more is set as the upper left corner position 1109 of the detection mark. Similarly, the upper right corner of the area having a predetermined density or more is set as the upper right corner position 1111 of the detection mark.

[0101] The alignment mark detection range is estimated by calculating the density center of a predetermined area starting from a position determined based on the upper left corner position 1109 of the detection mark. The detection range of the alignment mark 1103 can be estimated by detecting the detection mark 417 of the pattern 416 in Fig. 4. The detection process for the alignment mark 1103 is similar to the detection process for the detection mark 417, and an area with a predetermined density or higher is scanned, and the position of the alignment mark 1103 is detected by calculating the density center of the area.

[0102] Next, the position of the pattern matching pattern is estimated. Area 1104 is an area indicating the upper left corner position of the pattern matching pattern. The detection result of the detection mark 417 is also used to determine which test pattern corresponds to which chip of which print head. After the pattern matching pattern has its rough position determined by the above process, its final position on the image is detected by performing a position detection process including a pattern matching process. The position on the image of this pattern matching pattern is the position for calculating the distances used in calculating various amounts of deviation in head position deviation correction. The various amounts of deviation here include manufacturing errors between nozzle rows, manufacturing errors between chips, print head inclination, and position deviation between print heads.

[0103] (Processing flow) FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the flow of the print position adjustment process, in which FIG. 12(a) shows the overall flow of the print position adjustment process, and FIG. 12(b) shows a detailed flow of the pattern analysis process. The print position adjustment process of this embodiment can be performed at any timing desired by the user, such as when the recording medium to be printed on is replaced with a different type of recording medium from that of the previous printing target. As described above, after the pattern is printed and read, the pattern is analyzed. The following analysis flow is executed by the CPU of the control unit 31 of the recording device 1 functioning as an image processing device, but may be executed by using a CPU installed in the scanner unit 11 or the host device 33. In addition, the processing may be shared, such as the recording device 1 performing part of the processing and the host device 33 performing the remaining processing.

[0104] In S1201, the CPU of the control unit 31 prints the test patterns 402 corresponding to the colored material and the colorless material on the recording medium S by the recording head. In S1202, the CPU of the control unit 31 acquires a detection mark, an alignment mark, and a pattern matching pattern from a scan image (read image) obtained by reading the test pattern 402 printed on the recording medium S by the scanner unit 11. In S1203, the CPU of the control unit 31 analyzes the pattern acquired in S1202. In S1204, the CPU of the control unit 31 updates the recording position adjustment value, which is an adjustment value for adjusting the recording position deviation between the recording heads, based on the analysis result obtained in S1203. That is, the CPU stores or reflects the recording position adjustment value. This allows the recording device 1 to adjust the recording position deviation between the recording heads based on the recording position adjustment value.

[0105] (Details of pattern analysis) A detailed flow of the pattern analysis (S1203) will be described with reference to Fig. 12(b). Note that, in the test pattern 402 printed on the recording medium, a pattern corresponding to the target chip is detected from the detection marks 417 and 420 by image analysis processing, as described above with reference to Fig. 11.

[0106] In S1211, the CPU of the control unit 31 identifies the alignment marks and patterns using a predetermined density as a threshold value, and calculates the coordinates of the recording patterns 1007 and 1008 that serve as reference patterns. However, since the inverted pattern K (underlined) is used as described in Fig. 7 and Fig. 10, the luminance value of any channel read by the inspection unit 9B is subtracted from, for example, 255 in the case of 8 bits, and used as the inverted luminance value.

[0107] In S1212, the CPU of the control unit 31 detects the recording pattern 1017 by the primer ink. In S1213, the CPU of the control unit 31 judges whether the pattern recognition process in S1212 is successful or not. First, the CPU detects the mark position using the inverted luminance value of the reading channel on the assumption that the detection mark and the alignment mark have a lower density than the surroundings, such as the reference patterns 1007 and 1008, and determines the rough position of the recording pattern 1017. Then, the CPU performs the position detection process including the pattern matching process. When the position detection is completed without an error such as an error that an area matching the pattern 423 is not found, the CPU judges that the pattern recognition process is successful. When the CPU judges that the detection of the recording pattern 1017 is successful (YES in S1213), the CPU proceeds to S1216. When the CPU judges that the detection of the recording pattern 1017 is not successful (NO in S1213), the CPU proceeds to S1214.

[0108] In S1214, the CPU of the control unit 31 executes a density inversion process to invert the density of the read data of the target portion, and generates an inverted image by inverting the density of the read image. That is, unlike S1212, an analysis is performed using normal read channel luminance values ​​(opposite to the reference patterns 1007 and 1008) assuming that the primer recording pattern 1017 has a higher density than the surroundings. As a result, a density inversion pattern (hereinafter also referred to as an inversion pattern) is obtained.

[0109] In S1215, the CPU of the control unit 31 judges whether the detection of the inverted pattern has been successful. First, the rough position of the recording pattern 1017 is determined. That is, the mark position is detected using the inverted luminance value of the reading channel on the premise that the detection mark and the alignment mark have a lower density than the surroundings, as in the "inverted pattern" which is different from the reference patterns 1007 and 1008 in that the luminance value is inverted. The rough position of the pattern 1017 is determined by this detection. Then, the position detection process including the pattern matching process is performed, and when the position detection is completed without an error such as an error of not finding an area matching the pattern 423, it is judged that the detection of the inverted pattern has been successful. If the result of the judgment that the detection of the inverted pattern has been successful is obtained (YES in S1215), the process proceeds to S1216. If the result of the judgment that the detection of the inverted pattern has not been successful is obtained (NO in S1215), the process proceeds to S1217.

[0110] In S1216, the CPU of the control unit 31 calculates the amount of deviation and the adjustment value from coordinate analysis between the patterns. This allows the adjustment value to be obtained. In other words, if the result of S1213 is YES, the adjustment value is determined based on the recognition result of the pattern in the read image. Also, if the result of S1215 is YES, the adjustment value is determined based on the recognition result of the pattern in the inverted image.

[0111] 13(a) and (b) are diagrams showing parts of test patterns for recording media with different ink penetration characteristics in this embodiment. FIG. 13(a) shows the case of coated paper, and FIG. 13(b) shows the case of uncoated paper. However, in FIG. 13(a) and (b), the ink application method during printing is exactly the same. In the case of coated paper shown in FIG. 13(a), the subsequent K ink is printed over the entire area of ​​the primer print pattern 1302, and the reference patterns 1301 and 1303 are patterns without the K ink. The K ink applied on the primer print pattern 1302 that has not completely permeated the coated paper is washed away to the surroundings, etc., so that the base of the coated paper, which is the background color, can be seen through. On the other hand, in the case of uncoated paper shown in FIG. 13(b), the primer print pattern 1305 permeates quickly and the subsequent K ink is not washed away to the surroundings. Since the color development of the primer ink is improved by chemical reaction with the colored ink, the primer print pattern 1305 has a higher density than the surrounding area where no primer is applied.

[0112] Fig. 13(c) is a diagram showing an example of a test pattern of W ink and a primer for W ink on a film (such as a transparent film label attached to a colored release paper). Reference numeral 1310 denotes the background color of the film, and reference patterns 1307 and 1309 are formed with hollows, similar to the K ink. A primer print pattern 1308 is placed in the middle to calculate the amount of deviation in the recording position relative to the W ink, and the shading in the analysis is a state in which all the luminance values ​​of the test pattern shown in Fig. 13(a) are inverted.

[0113] In S1217, the CPU of the control unit 31 determines that an analysis error has occurred and does not update the adjustment value.

[0114] When the process of S1216 or S1217 is completed, the pattern analysis process shown in FIG. 12B is completed.

[0115] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to analyze a printing position adjustment pattern corresponding to a colorless and transparent primer ink regardless of the penetration characteristics of the recording medium, and the printing position misalignment between printing heads can be adjusted with high precision.

[0116] <<Embodiment 2>> In this embodiment, a process performed when information about a recording medium to be printed is acquired will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0117] Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the print position adjustment process according to this embodiment. Fig. 14(a) shows the overall flow of the print position adjustment process, and Fig. 14(b) shows details of the pattern analysis process (S1402). Fig. 14(c) shows details of the pattern analysis process for film (S1412), and Fig. 14(d) shows details of the pattern analysis process for paper (S1413). Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern to be analyzed.

[0118] (Flow of recording position adjustment process) In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0119] In S1401, the CPU of the control unit 31 acquires information related to the recording medium. For example, information related to the recording medium specified by a user operation on the UI screen displayed on the operation unit 32 (information about the recording medium) is acquired. For example, if the printing object is paper, recording medium information indicating that the printing object is paper is acquired. If the printing object is film, recording medium information indicating that the printing object is film is acquired.

[0120] In S1402, the CPU of the control unit 31 performs pattern analysis.

[0121] (Details of pattern analysis) In the pattern analysis (S1402), first, in S1411, it is determined whether the recording medium information acquired in S1401 is recording medium information indicating that the printing target is film. If the determination result indicates that recording medium information indicating that the printing target is film has been acquired (YES in S1411), the process proceeds to S1412. On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that recording medium information indicating that the printing target is film has not been acquired (NO in S1411), the process proceeds to S1413. When the process of S1412 or S1413 is completed, the flow shown in FIG. 14(b) ends.

[0122] (Details of pattern analysis processing for film) In S1421, the CPU of the control unit 31 calculates the reference pattern coordinates as in S1211. In S1422, the CPU of the control unit 31 performs a density inversion process to invert the density of the read data of the position detection pattern for the colored ink and transparent ink of the target pattern, thereby generating an inverted image in which the density of the read image is inverted. The process of S1422 is the same as S1214, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0123] In S1423, the CPU of the control unit 31 performs a recognition process on the pattern in the inverted image (inverted pattern). If the determination result indicates that the inverted pattern can be recognized (YES in S1423), the process proceeds to S1424. On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the inverted pattern cannot be recognized (NO in S1423), the process proceeds to S1425.

[0124] In S1424, the CPU of the control unit 31 calculates the amount of deviation and the adjustment value from the coordinate analysis between the patterns, similar to S1216. This results in the adjustment value. In other words, it can be said that the adjustment value is determined based on the recognition result of the pattern in the inverted image. In S1425, the CPU of the control unit 31 determines that there is an analysis error, similar to S1217, and does not update the adjustment value. When the process of S1424 or S1425 is completed, the flow shown in FIG. 14(c) is completed.

[0125] FIG. 14(d) showing a detailed flow of the paper pattern analysis process (S1413) is the same as the pattern analysis process (S1203) shown in FIG. 12(b), and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0126] <Relationship between paper / film and pattern> Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between paper and film and the recording pattern. Note that K indicates that black ink was used, Pri indicates that primer ink was used, and Whi indicates that white ink was used. The top row of the table shown in Fig. 15 shows the type of recording medium to be printed, and indicates the cases of paper and film. The second row from the top of the table shown in Fig. 15 shows the color type of the recording medium, and indicates the cases of white and transparent.

[0127] As shown in FIG. 15, in the case of paper, it is known that the appearance will be either A or B depending on the permeability. First, the analysis flow is started assuming that the shading relationship is A, but if it is determined that the central primer pattern cannot be recognized, it is assumed that the shading relationship is B and the analysis is retried. In the case of film, since there is no permeability, the shading relationship is not set to A, but is analyzed only with the setting that the shading relationship is B. By performing the analysis with the setting corresponding to the type of recording medium in this way, the time required for analysis can be shortened. Note that the position adjustment pattern of the white ink and white primer ink used for transparent film is case C, and since the pattern is recognized as having a high density, density inversion is not necessary, and the data obtained by the same process as usual is analyzed.

[0128] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to perform an analysis corresponding to the type of recording medium to be printed on. If the recording medium is film, processing to recognize that the recording medium is film is not required, and the time required for analysis can be shortened accordingly.

[0129] (Other embodiments) The present disclosure can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0130] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration examples.

[0131] (Configuration 1) an acquisition means for acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head; a determination unit that determines an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Equipped with The determining means is if the pattern cannot be recognized in the read image, a reversed image is generated by inverting the density of the read image; determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 13. An image processing device comprising:

[0132] (Configuration 2) 2. The image processing device according to configuration 1, wherein the determining means does not update the adjustment value if the pattern in the inverted image cannot be recognized.

[0133] (Configuration 3) The determining unit determines the adjustment value based on the pattern in the read image when the pattern in the read image can be recognized. 3. The image processing device according to configuration 1 or 2.

[0134] (Configuration 4) an acquisition means for acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head, and recording medium information indicating a type of the recording medium; a determination unit that determines an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Equipped with The determining means is Based on the acquired recording medium information, an inverted image is generated by inverting the density of the read image, and the adjustment value is determined based on the pattern in the generated inverted image. 13. An image processing device comprising:

[0135] (Configuration 5) When the acquiring means acquires the recording medium information indicating that the recording medium is a film, The determining means is generating an inverted image by inverting the shading of the read image corresponding to each of the colored material and the colorless material; The adjustment value is determined based on the pattern in the generated inverted image. 5. The image processing device according to configuration 4.

[0136] (Configuration 6) 6. The image processing device according to configuration 5, wherein the determining means does not update the adjustment value if the pattern in the inverted image cannot be recognized.

[0137] (Configuration 7) When the acquiring means acquires the recording medium information indicating that the recording medium is paper, The determining means is if the pattern cannot be recognized in the read image, a reversed image is generated by inverting the density of the read image; determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 7. The image processing device according to any one of configurations 4 to 6.

[0138] (Configuration 8) 8. The image processing device according to configuration 7, wherein the determining means does not update the adjustment value if the pattern in the inverted image cannot be recognized.

[0139] (Configuration 9) The determining unit determines the adjustment value based on the pattern in the read image when the pattern in the read image can be recognized. 9. The image processing device according to configuration 7 or 8.

[0140] (Configuration 10) The read image is an image obtained by forming a pattern with the colorless material discharged from the recording head, covering the pattern with the colored material discharged from the recording head, and then reading the pattern. 10. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device further comprises:

[0141] (Configuration 11) The colorless material is used to fix the colored material to the recording medium. 11. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device further comprises:

[0142] (Configuration 12) The recording head is an ink-jet recording head. 12. The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11.

[0143] (Configuration 13) The recording head is a full-line type recording head in which ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged over a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium. 13. The recording device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12.

[0144] (Configuration 14) an acquisition step of acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head; a determination step of determining an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Including, In the determining step, if the pattern cannot be recognized in the read image, a reversed image is generated by inverting the density of the read image; determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 13. An image processing method comprising:

[0145] (Configuration 15) an acquisition step of acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head, and recording medium information indicating a type of the recording medium; a determination step of determining an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Including, In the determining step, generating an inverted image by inverting the density of the target read image based on the acquired recording medium information, and determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 13. An image processing method comprising:

[0146] (Configuration 16) 16. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method for a recording apparatus according to configuration 14 or 15.

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head; a determination unit that determines an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Equipped with The determining means is if the pattern cannot be recognized in the read image, a reversed image is generated by inverting the density of the read image; determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 13. An image processing device comprising:

2. 2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determining means does not update the adjustment value when the pattern in the reverse image cannot be recognized.

3. The determining unit determines the adjustment value based on the pattern in the read image when the pattern in the read image can be recognized.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1,

4. an acquisition means for acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head, and recording medium information indicating a type of the recording medium; a determination unit that determines an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Equipped with The determining means is Based on the acquired recording medium information, an inverted image is generated by inverting the density of the read image, and the adjustment value is determined based on the pattern in the generated inverted image.

13. An image processing device comprising:

5. When the acquiring means acquires the recording medium information indicating that the recording medium is a film, The determining means is generating an inverted image by inverting the shading of the read image corresponding to each of the colored material and the colorless material; The adjustment value is determined based on the pattern in the generated inverted image.

5. The image processing device according to claim 4.

6. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the determining means does not update the adjustment value when the pattern in the reverse image cannot be recognized.

7. When the acquiring means acquires the recording medium information indicating that the recording medium is paper, The determining means is if the pattern cannot be recognized in the read image, a reversed image is generated by inverting the density of the read image; determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 5. The image processing device according to claim 4.

8. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the determining means does not update the adjustment value when the pattern in the reverse image cannot be recognized.

9. The determining unit determines the adjustment value based on the pattern in the read image when the pattern in the read image can be recognized.

8. The image processing device according to claim 7,

10. The read image is an image obtained by forming a pattern with the colorless material discharged from the recording head, covering the pattern with the colored material discharged from the recording head, and then reading the pattern.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing apparatus.

11. The colorless material is used to fix the colored material to the recording medium.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing apparatus.

12. The recording head is an ink-jet recording head.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing apparatus.

13. The recording head is a full-line type recording head in which ejection ports for ejecting ink are arranged over a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second inputs are input to the image processing apparatus.

14. an acquisition step of acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head; a determination step of determining an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Including, In the determining step, if the pattern cannot be recognized in the read image, a reversed image is generated by inverting the density of the read image; determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 13. An image processing method comprising:

15. an acquisition step of acquiring a read image obtained by reading a pattern corresponding to each of a colored material and a colorless material formed on a recording medium by a recording head, and recording medium information indicating a type of the recording medium; a determination step of determining an adjustment value for adjusting a recording position deviation between the recording heads based on a result of recognition of the pattern in the read image; Including, In the determining step, generating an inverted image by inverting the density of the target read image based on the acquired recording medium information, and determining the adjustment value based on the pattern in the generated inverted image; 13. An image processing method comprising:

16. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the image processing method according to claim 14 or 15.

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