Control device, inkjet recording device, control method, and program

Abstract

To inhibit deterioration of accuracy of calibration in a recording device in which a plurality of drying units dry an ink to record an image.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: transport means which transports a recording medium along a transport direction; recording means which discharges a liquid to the recording medium; and drying means which comprises a plurality of drying units disposed in a width direction intersecting with the transport direction and used to dry the liquid discharged to the recording medium. A control device controls the recording device and includes: setting means which sets areas on the recording medium, on which adjustment patterns for calibration are respectively recorded, based on information of positions at which the drying units are respectively disposed; and performing means which causes the recording means to record the adjustment patterns in the areas set on the recording medium and performs the calibration based on the recorded adjustment patterns.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technique for recording an image on a recording medium.

Background Art

[0002] Calibration is known as a method for correcting the colors recorded by the recording head of an inkjet recording apparatus.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a method for performing calibration. In Patent Document 1, information on the colors recorded by the recording head is obtained by measuring a plurality of patches recorded on a recording medium, and color correction parameters are generated based on the obtained color information. Then, in Patent Document 1, calibration is performed by correcting the image data using the color correction parameters.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, as a recording apparatus for recording an image on a non-absorbent or low-absorbent recording medium, there is an inkjet recording apparatus provided with a drying device. An image can be formed on the recording medium by drying the ink applied on the non-absorbent or low-absorbent recording medium with the drying device.

[0006] The drying device mounted on the inkjet recording apparatus may be composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording medium. In such a drying device, there may be variations in the drying performance of each of the plurality of drying units. If there are variations in the drying performance of each of the plurality of drying units, density unevenness may occur in the image formed on the recording medium. For this reason, when an inkjet recording apparatus having a plurality of drying units records a plurality of patches on the recording medium in order to perform calibration as in Patent Document 1, variations due to density unevenness may occur within the plane of the patch. In this case, there is a risk that the accuracy of calibration will decrease.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to suppress a decrease in the accuracy of calibration in a recording apparatus in which a plurality of drying units perform drying to record an image.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The control device of the present disclosure is a control device that controls a recording apparatus having a conveyance means for conveying a recording medium along a conveyance direction, a recording means for discharging a liquid onto the conveyed recording medium, and a drying means composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in a width direction intersecting the conveyance direction for drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium, and based on information on the positions where each of the plurality of drying units is arranged, a setting means for setting an area on the recording medium where an adjustment pattern for calibration is recorded, and an execution means for causing the recording means to record the adjustment pattern in the set area on the recording medium and executing the calibration based on the recorded adjustment pattern.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the accuracy of calibration in a recording apparatus in which a plurality of drying units perform drying to record an image.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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Figure 10

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[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the technology of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] [Configuration of Inkjet Recording Apparatus] [Configuration of Inkjet Recording Apparatus] FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the schematic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment. An inkjet recording apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a "recording apparatus") 1 conveys a recording medium P by a conveyance mechanism including a pair of conveyance rollers 3 of a conveyance roller and a pinch roller. Then, the recording head 4 scans the conveyed recording medium P along the X direction shown in FIG. 1, and during the scanning, the recording head 4 discharges ink or the like to perform recording such as an image on the recording medium P.

[0013] In the present embodiment, the recording medium P is described as being in a so-called roll-to-roll form that is fed from a wound state, recorded, and then wound up again, but is not limited to this form. The recording medium P may be, for example, cut paper. The recording head 4 is mounted on a carriage 5, and the carriage 5 is configured to be movable along the X direction, so that the recording medium P can be scanned. The recording head 4 is provided with ejection ports for each type of ink, and ejects ink from each ejection port according to recording data to apply the ink to the recording medium P. Details of the recording head 4 will be described later.

[0014] An optical sensor 2 is attached to the carriage 5. By using the optical sensor 2, the reflection optical density of an adjustment pattern 600 (see FIG. 6) formed by applying ink to the recording medium P is acquired. Details of the configuration of the optical sensor 2 will be described later.

[0015] The platen 6 is provided at a position facing the scanning area of the recording head 4 to support the recording medium P from its back side. Further, the platen 6 is provided with a suction port and can suck the recording medium P with a force that does not impede its conveyance by a suction mechanism (not shown). Note that the recording head 4 can also be configured to be detachably attached to the carriage 5.

[0016] The recording device 1 is provided with a platen blower 10 and a fixing device 11 as a configuration for drying the ink ejected onto the recording medium P. The platen blower 10 is composed of four drying units arranged along the X direction shown in FIG. 1. The plurality of drying units constituting the platen blower 10 are referred to as blower units 10-1 to 10-4. The fixing device 11 is composed of six drying units arranged along the X direction shown in FIG. 1. The plurality of drying units constituting the fixing device 11 are referred to as fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0017] The platen blower 10 is provided upstream of the recording head 4 in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P. Each of the blower units 10-1 to 10-4 constituting the platen blower 10 has a fan 10A and a heater 10B. The blower units 10-1 to 10-4 blow warm air at a predetermined temperature from their respective air outlets onto the area of the recording medium P to which the ink ejected from the recording head 4 is applied. Thereby, the ink applied to the recording medium P can be dried.

[0018] The fixing device 11 is provided downstream of the recording head 4 in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P. The fixing device 11 is provided for drying the ink applied to the recording medium P after recording and fixing the ink to the recording medium. Each of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 constituting the fixing device 11 is provided with a substantially box-shaped housing. The open bottom portion of the housing is an air outlet for warm air, and the air outlet faces the surface of the conveyed recording medium P. A fan 11A and a heater 11B are provided in the housing of each of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6. Each of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6, by these configurations, blows warm air from the air outlet toward the recording medium P, evaporates the water and solvent contained in the ink etc. applied to the recording medium P, and can fix the applied ink etc. to the recording medium.

[0019] The downflow unit 12 is equipped with a fan and blows the warm air exhausted from the fixing device 11 downward to the lower part of the device. The air curtain unit 13 is provided between the platen 6 and the fixing device 11 to prevent the mist such as ink flowing by the blowing of the platen blower 10 from entering the inside of each unit of the fixing device 11.

[0020] [Regarding the optical sensor] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the optical sensor 2 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the optical sensor 2 includes a main body 20, a light emitting unit 20E, and a light receiving unit 20R. The main body 20 is fixedly installed on the carriage 5 so that the detection spot SP is located on the downstream side in the +Y direction from the ejection port array of the recording head 4.

[0021] The light emitting unit 20E is composed of, for example, LEDs such as R, G, and B. The light receiving unit 20R is composed of, for example, a photodiode. The light emitting unit 20E and the light receiving unit 20R are provided on the lower surface side of the main body 20. The light emitting unit 20E irradiates the recording medium P with light EP, and the light is diffusely reflected by the recording medium P. The light receiving unit 20R receives the reflected light RP reflected by the recording medium P. FIG. 2(b) shows the detection spot by the irradiation of the light EP. The diameter of the detection spot SP is, for example, approximately 3 mm. The detection signal (analog signal) of the reflected light RP received by the light receiving unit 20R is transmitted to the control circuit (not shown) of the recording device 1 via a flexible cable (not shown) or the like. The control circuit converts the input detection signal of the reflected light RP into a digital signal by an A / D converter.

[0022] [Configuration of the recording head] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the ejection port surface of the recording head 4 according to the present embodiment. The recording head 4 includes five ejection port arrays that eject different types of liquids. The ejection port arrays of the recording head 4 include four ejection port arrays that eject ink (hereinafter referred to as color ink) containing a coloring material. Specifically, the recording head 4 includes an ejection port array 22Bk that ejects black ink (Bk), an ejection port array 22C that ejects cyan ink (C), an ejection port array 22M that ejects magenta ink (M), and an ejection port array 22Y that ejects yellow ink (Y). Further, the recording head 4 is provided with an ejection port array 22RCT that ejects a reaction liquid (RCT) that does not contain a coloring material. The reaction liquid contains a component that reacts with the coloring material contained in the color ink, and when the reaction liquid comes into contact with the color ink on the recording medium P, aggregation occurs in the coloring material. Therefore, the reaction liquid can suppress bleeding of the color ink and improve the density. In this specification, the term "ink" may include the reaction liquid in some cases.

[0023] In the recording head 4, the ejection port arrays 22Bk, 22C, 22M, 22Y, and 22RCT are arranged in order from the left side in the X direction. In each of these ejection port arrays 22Bk, 22C, 22M, 22Y, and 22RCT, 1280 ejection ports 30 for ejecting ink are arranged in the Y direction (array direction) at a density of 1200 dPi.

[0024] In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the amount of ink ejected from one ejection port 30 in one ejection is about 4.5 pl. The ink flow paths corresponding to the ejection port arrays 22Bk, 22C, 22M, 22Y, and 22RCT are connected to ink tanks (not shown) that store the corresponding ink, and each ink is supplied from the ink tank to each ejection port array. The recording head 4 and the ink tank (not shown) may be integrally configured or may be configured to be separable from each other. In addition, when referring to any one of the five ejection port arrays 22Bk, 22C, 22M, 22Y, and 22RCT, it may be described as the ejection port array 22.

[0025] The recording head 4 is provided with an energy generating element (hereinafter also referred to as a recording element) that generates ejection energy for ejecting ink from the ejection port 30. In the present embodiment, an electrothermal transducer that locally heats the ink to cause film boiling and ejects the ink by the pressure thereof is used as the energy generating element. However, the energy generating element is not limited to the electrothermal transducer. For example, it is also possible to use an electromechanical conversion element as the energy generating element.

[0026] [Configuration of Recording System] FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the control unit 300 of the recording apparatus 1. The control unit 300 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a memory 313, and an input / output port 304. The control unit 300 is connected to a host device (PC) 312 via an interface circuit 311.

[0027] The CPU 301 executes processing operations such as arithmetic operations, determinations, and controls, as well as recording operations. The ROM 302 stores control programs and the like executed by the CPU 301. The RAM 303 is used as a buffer for recording data and the like. The input / output port 304 is connected to various drive circuits 305 to 308. The drive circuit 305 drives a conveyance motor (LF motor) 309 that serves as a drive source for conveying the recording medium P. The drive circuit 306 drives a carriage motor (CR motor) 310 for the carriage 5 to scan. The drive circuit 307 causes the recording head 4 to eject ink. The drive circuit 308 individually drives the platen blower 10, the fixing device 11, the downflow unit 12, and the air curtain unit 13.

[0028] [Multi-Pass Recording] The recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment performs multi-pass recording in which the recording head 4 performs a recording scan corresponding to a unit area of the recording medium P and the recording medium P is conveyed by a conveyance amount corresponding to the unit area a plurality of times to complete the recording in the unit area.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining multi-pass recording. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining 8-pass recording in which the recording head 4 performs recording by scanning 8 times on the unit area 80 to complete an image on the unit area 80 of the recording medium P. The ejection port row 22 is divided into 8 ejection port groups A1 to A8 so as to correspond to the unit area 80, and each ejection port group includes 48 consecutive ejection ports 30. In FIG. 5, one row of the ejection port row 22 is taken up for explanation, but the same operation as the following explanation is performed for the other ejection port rows. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording medium P is actually conveyed in the -Y direction, but in FIG. 5, for convenience of explanation, it is illustrated that the ejection port row 22 moves in the +Y direction, indicating that the recording medium P is conveyed in the -Y direction.

[0030] In the first pass of FIG. 5, the recording head 4 ejects ink from the ejection ports 30 of the ejection port group A1 to the unit area 80 according to the recording data corresponding to the first pass while scanning in the X direction by the carriage 5, and the first-pass recording is performed. After the first-pass recording, the recording medium P is conveyed in the -Y direction by a distance corresponding to one ejection port group, that is, an amount corresponding to the unit area 80 in the conveyance direction, so that the ejection port group A2 of the ejection port row 22 faces the unit area 80. In the second pass of FIG. 5, the recording head 4 ejects ink from the ejection ports 30 of the ejection port group A2 to the unit area 80 according to the recording data corresponding to the second pass while scanning in the X direction, and the second-pass recording is performed. Similarly, thereafter, by alternately performing the conveyance of the recording medium P and the scanning of the recording head 4, the third to eighth pass recordings in which ink is ejected from the ejection ports of the ejection port groups A3 to A8 to the unit area 80 are executed. When the first to eighth pass recordings are performed on the unit area 80, the image formed on the unit area 80 is completed.

[0031] [Color ink and reaction liquid] In this embodiment, the color inks (C, M, Y, Bk) and the reaction liquid (RCT) all contain a water-soluble organic solvent. For reasons of wettability and moisture retention of the face surface of the recording head 4, the water-soluble organic solvent preferably has a boiling point of 150°C or higher and 300°C or lower. Particularly preferred are ketone compounds such as acetone and cyclohexanone, propylene glycol derivatives such as tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and heterocyclic compounds having a lactam structure represented by N-methyl-pyrrolidone and 2-pyrrolidone. From the viewpoint of ejection performance, the content of the water-soluble organic solvent is preferably 3 wT% or more and 30 wT% or less. Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include alkyl alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, and tert-butyl alcohol. Amides such as dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide. Ketones or ketoalcohols such as acetone and diacetone alcohol. Ethers such as tetrahydrofuran and dioxane. Polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol. Ethylene glycol. Or alkylene glycols having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in the alkylene group such as propylene glycol, butylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thiodiglycol, hexylene glycol, and diethylene glycol. Lower alkyl ether acetates such as polyethylene glycol and monomethyl ether acetate. Glycerin. Lower alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol monomethyl (or ethyl) ether, diethylene glycol methyl (or ethyl) ether, and triethylene glycol monomethyl (or ethyl) ether. Polyhydric alcohols such as trimethylolpropane and trimethylolethane. N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, 2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, and the like. The water-soluble organic solvent can be used alone or as a mixture. Also, it is desirable to use deionized water as the water. The content of the water-soluble organic solvent in the reaction liquid (RCT) is not particularly limited.In addition to the components mentioned above, surfactants, defoamers, preservatives, antifungal agents, etc. may be added appropriately to the color inks (C, M, Y, Bk) to give them desired physical properties as necessary.

[0032] In addition, the color inks (C, M, Y, Bk) and the reaction liquid (RCT) used in this embodiment all contain a surfactant. The surfactant is used as a penetrant for the purpose of improving the permeability of the ink to a recording medium dedicated to inkjet printing. The more the surfactant is added, the stronger the property of lowering the surface tension of the ink becomes, and the wettability and permeability of the ink to the recording medium improves. In this embodiment, a small amount of acetylene glycol EO adduct or the like is added as a surfactant, and the surface tension of each ink is adjusted to be 30 dYn / CM or less, and further the difference in surface tension between the inks is adjusted to be within 2 dYn / CM. More specifically, the surface tension of each ink is adjusted to be about 28 to 30 dYn / CM. A fully automatic surface tensiometer CBVP-Z (manufactured by Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.) was used to measure the surface tension. Note that the measuring device is not limited to the example shown, as long as it can measure the surface tension of the ink.

[0033] From the viewpoint of preventing the elution and deterioration of the members in contact with each ink in the recording head 4 of the recording device 1, and the decrease in the solubility of the dispersion resin in the ink, it is preferable that the pH of each ink is 7.0 or more and 10.0 or less. Therefore, the pH of each ink in this embodiment is stable on the alkaline side, and the value is 8.5 to 9.5. For the measurement of pH, a PH METER model F-52 manufactured by Horiba Ltd. was used. Note that the measuring device is not limited to the exemplified one as long as it can measure the pH of the ink.

[0034] [Recording Media] In the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the description will be given on the assumption that recording is performed on a low-permeability recording medium in which moisture hardly penetrates. The low-permeability recording medium is a recording medium that has no water absorbency or has an extremely small water absorption amount. Therefore, with an aqueous ink that does not contain an organic solvent, the ink is repelled and an image cannot be recorded on the low-permeability recording medium. On the other hand, the low-permeability recording medium is excellent in water resistance and weather resistance and is suitable as a recording medium for generating a recording object for outdoor use. Usually, a recording medium having a water contact angle of 45° or more, preferably 60° or more at 25°C is used.

[0035] Examples of the low-permeability recording medium include a recording medium in which a plastic layer is formed on the outermost surface of the base material, a recording medium in which an ink receiving layer is not formed on the base material, a sheet, film, or banner such as glass, Yupo, or plastic. Examples of the plastic to be coated include polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. Since these low-permeability recording media are excellent in water resistance, light resistance, and abrasion resistance, they are generally used when generating a recording object for outdoor display.

[0036] As an example of a method for evaluating the permeability of a recording medium, the Bristow method described in the "Liquid Absorbency Test Method for Paper and Paperboard" of JAPAN TAPPI Paper Pulp Test Method No. 51 can be used. The measurement method of the Bristow method will be briefly described below. First, a predetermined amount of ink is injected into a holding container having an opening slit of a predetermined size, and the ink is brought into contact with a recording medium that is processed into a strip shape and wound around a disk through the slit. Next, while fixing the position of the holding container, the disk is rotated to measure the area (length) of the ink band transferred to the recording medium. From the area of this ink band, the transfer amount (ml·m -2 ) per unit area per second can be calculated. In the present embodiment, a recording medium in which the ink transfer amount (water absorption amount) at 30 msec1 / 2 by the Bristow method is less than 10 ml·m -2 is regarded as a low-permeability recording medium.

[0037] [Regarding Calibration] When an image is recorded on a recording medium by a recording head having a plurality of ejection port arrays like the recording head 4 of the present embodiment, the color tone of the image formed on the recording medium may be different from the desired color tone. The reason why the color tone of the image on the recording medium is different from the desired color tone is that the ink ejection characteristics of the individual ejection port arrays may be different, and the density value of the image on the recording medium changes because the ink ejection characteristics are different for each ejection port array. Similarly, when an image is recorded on a recording medium using a plurality of recording heads, the color tone of the image formed on the recording medium may be different from the desired color tone because the ink ejection characteristics of the individual recording heads are different. As a technique for correcting the difference in color tone due to different ink ejection characteristics for each ejection port array or each recording head, there is color shift correction processing (calibration). Calibration is a process for enabling the reproduction of an assumed reference color on the recording medium. By calibration, it is possible to suppress variations in the color formed on the recording medium by the recording head.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an adjustment pattern 600 for calibration. The adjustment pattern 600 includes four-color patch groups: a patch group 601 of Bk ink, a patch group 602 of C ink, a patch group 603 of M ink, and a patch group 604 of Y ink. Each ink patch group is composed of 16 gradation patches with a recording duty of 10 to 160%. That is, the recording duty includes patches with gradation values of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, 110%, 120%, 130%, 140%, 150%, and 160%.

[0039] To perform calibration, first, the recording head 4 is caused to record the adjustment pattern 600 on the recording medium P based on the image data of the adjustment pattern 600. Then, by measuring the density value of each patch of the adjustment pattern 600 in the recording obtained as a result of the recording, information regarding the color recorded by each ejection port row of each ink is acquired. Since the adjustment pattern 600 includes patches of 16 gradations, information on the difference between the actual density value and the desired density value when recording with the image data of each of the 16 gradations can be obtained. Then, color correction parameters are generated based on the acquired information so that the recording head 4 can reproduce the reference color assumed. By correcting the received image data using this color correction parameter, the image indicated by the received image data can be recorded in a desired color tone.

[0040] In this way, by causing the ejection port row 22 to record the adjustment pattern 600 based on the image data of the adjustment pattern 600, information on the difference between the actual density value and the desired density value for each of the 16 gradations can be obtained, so that appropriate color correction parameters can be determined. Therefore, in order to acquire information for appropriately determining the color correction parameters, it is preferable to form the adjustment pattern 600 on the recording medium so that the density of the patches formed on the recording medium P does not change due to factors other than the ejection characteristics of the ejection port row 22.

[0041] [Regarding density unevenness caused by the drying device] When a drying unit having a fan and a heater dries the ink applied on the recording medium P in a recording apparatus in which a plurality of drying units are arranged in the width direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording medium P, density unevenness may occur. The cause of this density unevenness will be explained. The cause of the occurrence of density unevenness varies depending on the recording duty.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the cause of density unevenness that occurs when an image with a recording duty of less than 100% formed on a low-permeability recording medium is dried by blowing. In the following description, the case of recording 1 dot at 1200 dpi is defined as a recording duty of 100%.

[0043] "Blowing and drying" refers to drying the ink during image formation immediately after it is ejected onto the recording medium. In this embodiment, the platen blowing device 10 is a drying device that performs blowing and drying. Therefore, the platen blowing device 10 that performs "blowing and drying" is arranged upstream of the recording head 4 at a position where hot air can be blown below the recording head 4 (above the platen 6).

[0044] FIGS. 7(a) and (b) are diagrams showing ink droplets immediately after being applied onto the low-permeability recording medium P. FIG. 7(a) is a view of the recording medium P as seen from above. FIG. 7(b) is a cross-sectional view of the recording medium P shown in FIG. 7(a). When the ink droplets applied onto the recording medium P are sufficiently dried by any one of the blowing units 10-1 to 10-4, they can remain at the desired location without moving on the recording medium P in the state in which they were applied.

[0045] FIGS. 7(c) to (e) are diagrams showing ink droplets applied onto the recording medium P that has been dried by a blowing unit among the blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 with weak drying performance. FIGS. 7(c) and (d) are cross-sectional views of the recording medium P. When the drying of the ink by the blowing unit is insufficient, the ink droplets applied to the recording medium P cannot remain at the desired location. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7(c), the ink droplets may move on the recording medium P in the direction of the arrow. In this case, the ink droplets come into contact with each other and become in a state like a single ink droplet as shown in FIG. 7(d). FIG. 7(e) is a view of the recording medium P in the state of the ink droplet in FIG. 7(d) as seen from above. Comparing FIG. 7(e) with FIG. 7(a) showing the recording medium P onto which ink has been applied based on the same recording duty image data, the ink coverage per unit area in FIG. 7(e) is smaller and the density is lower.

[0046] When the platen air blower device 10 that performs blowing and drying is composed of a plurality of air blower units 10-1 to 10-4 as in this embodiment, the drying performances of the plurality of air blower units 10-1 to 10-4 are different, and there may be a mixture of a sufficient drying area and an insufficient drying area. In this case, even if a patch with the same recording duty of less than 100% is recorded, density unevenness will occur within the patch formed on the recording medium P.

[0047] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the cause of density unevenness generated by fixing and drying an image with a recording duty of 100% or more formed on a low-permeability recording medium. "Fixing and drying" refers to drying the ink for which image formation has been completed. For this reason, the fixing device 11 that performs fixing and drying is arranged at a position where it can dry the recording medium P conveyed downstream of the recording head 4.

[0048] FIGS. 8(a) and (b) are diagrams showing cross-sectional views of an ink layer formed by any one of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 constituting the fixing device 11 performing fixing and drying on the ink applied on the low-permeability recording medium P.

[0049] FIG. 8(a) is a cross-sectional view of an ink layer formed by a fixing unit having the performance of drying at a temperature appropriate for fixing performing drying. When the temperature of the air blown from the fixing unit is appropriate, the ink layer formed on the recording medium P has a smooth surface shape as shown in FIG. 8(a).

[0050] FIG. 8(b) is a cross-sectional view of an ink layer formed by a fixing unit having the performance of drying at a temperature higher than the temperature appropriate for fixing performing drying. When the temperature of the air blown from the fixing unit is high, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the ink layer formed on the recording medium P has a surface shape with irregularities.

[0051] In FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), arrow R indicates specularly reflected light reflected from the surface of the ink layer. When the surface shape of the ink layer is smooth as shown in FIG. 8(a), the direction of arrow R indicating the specularly reflected light is substantially in one direction. On the other hand, when the surface shape of the ink layer has irregularities as shown in FIG. 8(b), the directions of arrow R indicating the specularly reflected light are in various directions. Therefore, specularly reflected light is also mixed in the light measured by the optical sensor 2 to obtain the density value, and the density value is determined to be lower compared to the case of a smooth surface shape. Thus, when recording is performed based on image data with a recording duty of 100% or more, ink is applied so as to completely cover the unit area on the recording medium P. When ink is applied so as to completely cover the unit area on the recording medium P, density unevenness occurs due to the difference in the surface shape of the fixed ink layer, rather than the movement of the ink droplets as described above.

[0052] When the fixing device 11 is composed of fixing units 11-1 to 11-6, the drying performances of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 may be different. When the drying performances of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 are different, an area where fixing is performed at an appropriate temperature and an area where fixing is performed at a temperature higher than the appropriate temperature may be mixed. In this case, even if patches with the same recording duty of 100% or more are recorded, density unevenness occurs within the patches formed on the recording medium P.

[0053] As described above, in order to perform calibration appropriately, it is preferable that the adjustment pattern 600 formed on the recording medium P does not change in density due to factors other than the ejection characteristics of the ejection port array 22. However, as described above, in a recording method in which ink ejected from the recording head 4 is dried by a drying device composed of a plurality of drying units, variations (density unevenness) may occur within the plane of the adjustment pattern formed on the recording medium P. In this case, information regarding the color recorded by the ejection port array 22 cannot be appropriately obtained, and there is a risk that the accuracy of calibration will decrease.

[0054] For example, regarding the density values within the patches of the adjustment pattern 600, the density values at a plurality of different positions within the patch are measured, and the average value of the measured values is obtained as the density value of the patch. Therefore, if density unevenness occurs within the same patch, an appropriate density value for the patch cannot be obtained, resulting in a decrease in the calibration accuracy. Also, even when obtaining the measured value of only one point of the patch as the density value of the patch, the same density unevenness does not occur every time calibration is performed. Thus, the density value of the patch is obtained differently depending on the calibration timing. In this case, a phenomenon occurs where the color determined during calibration cannot be reproduced after calibration.

[0055] Therefore, in the present embodiment, a recording area is set such that it is not air-dried by a plurality of the air supply units 10-1 to 10-4 and is not fixed and dried by a plurality of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6. Then, by recording the adjustment pattern 600 in the set recording area, a method is described for suppressing the occurrence of density unevenness in the adjustment pattern due to differences in the drying performance of the air supply units 10-1 to 10-4 and the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0056] [Flowchart] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the process for performing calibration and recording based on the corrected image data. A series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 are performed by the CPU 301 expanding and executing the program code stored in the ROM 302 or the memory 313 in the RAM 303. Also, some or all of the functions of the steps in FIG. 9 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or an electronic circuit. Note that the symbol "S" in the description of each process means each step (process) in the flowchart, and the same applies to the subsequent flowcharts.

[0057] The flowcharts of FIGS. 9(a) and (b) are flowcharts for explaining the processing when a low-permeability recording medium is set in the recording apparatus 1 as the recording medium P. The flowchart of FIG. 9(a) starts when an instruction is input via the host device (PC) 312 by the user and the CPU 301 receives the input instruction.

[0058] In S901, the CPU 301 irradiates the white paper portion of the recording medium P with light from the light emitting unit 20E of the optical sensor 2, and adjusts the light amount of the light emitting unit 20E of the optical sensor 2 using the value obtained by the light receiving unit 20R receiving the reflected light.

[0059] In S902, the CPU 301 acquires the position information indicating the respective positions of the plurality of air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4. Further, the CPU 301 acquires the position information indicating the respective positions of the plurality of fixing units 11-1 to 11-6. The position information of each drying unit of the air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 and the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 may be held in a storage device such as the ROM 302, or may be input by the user via an input device.

[0060] In S903, the CPU 301 sets an area (recording area) on the recording medium P where the adjustment pattern 600 is to be recorded based on the information on the respective positions of the plurality of air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 and the respective positions of the plurality of fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0061] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the method of setting the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600. In FIG. 10, the X direction is the width direction of the recording medium P which is the moving direction of the carriage 5 (recording head 4), and the Y direction is the conveyance direction of the recording medium P.

[0062] In FIG. 10, the positions and sizes of the four air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 corresponding to the conveyed recording medium P are shown as rectangles. More specifically, the rectangles indicating the four air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 shown in FIG. 10 indicate the positions and sizes of the hot air outlets of the air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 respectively.

[0063] In addition, in FIG. 10, the positions and sizes of the six fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 corresponding to the conveyed recording medium P are shown as rectangles. More specifically, the rectangles showing the six fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 shown in FIG. 10 indicate the positions and sizes of the hot air outlets of each of the six fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0064] The length of the width, which is the length of the recording medium P in the X direction, is, for example, 64 inches. The four air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 and the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 are arranged to correspond to the length of the width of the recording medium P.

[0065] The broken line Q1 indicates the position of the X-direction end of the air outlet of any one of the air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4. The broken line Q2 indicates the position of the X-direction end of the air outlet of any one of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0066] In the present embodiment, since the air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 and the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 are arranged without gaps in the X direction, for example, the end of the air blowing unit 10-1 and the end of the air blowing unit 10-2 are represented by the same broken line Q1. The air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 may be arranged with gaps. Similarly, the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 may also be arranged with gaps.

[0067] When the adjustment pattern 600 is recorded in the area straddling the broken line Q1 on the recording medium P, that is, in the area including the broken line Q1 on the recording medium P, the adjustment pattern 600 recorded on the recording medium P may be dried by blowing by a plurality of air blowing units. As described above, if there is variation in the drying performance of the plurality of air blowing units, there is a risk that the adjustment pattern 600 with density unevenness will be formed. In addition, when the adjustment pattern 600 is recorded in the area straddling the broken line Q2 on the recording medium P, fixing drying may be performed by a plurality of fixing units. In this case, as described above, there is a risk that the adjustment pattern 600 with density unevenness will be formed.

[0068] Therefore, in S903, the CPU 301 sets the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 within the range of the area that does not straddle either the broken line Q1 or the broken line Q2. That is, the recording area is set within the range of the area of one drying unit. For example, in S903, the CPU 301 sets the area T1 shown in FIG. 10 as the recording area. Note that the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 installed in S903 is not limited to the area T1 illustrated in FIG. 10. The recording area may be any area that does not straddle either the broken line Q1 or the broken line Q2.

[0069] In S904, the CPU 301 controls each drive circuit to cause the recording head 4 to record the adjustment pattern 600 in the recording area set in S903.

[0070] For example, the CPU 301 adjusts the size of the image data of the adjustment pattern 600 according to the size of the recording area set in S903. Then, the CPU 301 generates recording data that defines ink ejection or non-ejection based on the image data after size adjustment so that the recording head 4 records the adjustment pattern 600 in the recording area on the recording medium P. The CPU 301 causes the recording head 4 to eject ink based on the generated recording data, and records the adjustment pattern 600 in the recording area on the recording medium P. At this time, after the air blowing units 10-1 to 10-4 start air blowing, the recording head 4 records the adjustment pattern 600, and recording is performed while air blowing and drying.

[0071] In S905, the CPU 301 controls the drive circuit 305 to convey the recording medium P so that the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 of the fixing device 11 can perform fixing and drying on the area of the recording medium P where the adjustment pattern 600 is recorded. S905 is performed after the recording of the adjustment pattern 600 in the recording area is completed.

[0072] In S906, the CPU 301 controls the drive circuit 308 to cause the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 to perform fixing and drying on the area where the adjustment pattern 600 is recorded.

[0073] In S907, the CPU 301 controls the drive circuit 305 to reverse-convey the recording medium P to a position where the adjustment pattern 600 formed on the recording medium P can be measured by the optical sensor 2. In this embodiment, the optical sensor 2 is fixedly installed on the carriage 5. Further, the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 are installed on the downstream side of the recording medium P in the conveyance direction from the carriage 5. For this reason, after the fixing and drying are performed, the recording medium P is reverse-conveyed so that the optical sensor 2 installed on the carriage 5 can measure the adjustment pattern 600 formed on the recording medium P.

[0074] Note that the installation location of the optical sensor 2 is not limited to the carriage 5. When the optical sensor 2 is installed at a location different from the carriage 5, the CPU 301 conveys or reverse-conveys the recording medium P to a position where the adjustment pattern 600 recorded by the optical sensor 2 can be measured.

[0075] In S908, the CPU 301 causes the optical sensor 2 to measure each patch in the adjustment pattern 600 formed on the recording medium P.

[0076] In this step, the conveyance of the recording medium P in the Y direction and the movement of the carriage 5 on which the optical sensor 2 is attached in the X direction are alternately performed to measure the optical characteristics of each patch of the adjustment pattern 600 formed on the recording medium P by the optical sensor 2. The CPU 301 synchronizes with the timing based on the position signal of the carriage 5 obtained by an encoder (not shown) and causes the optical sensor 2 to measure the optical characteristics of each patch recorded on the recording medium P.

[0077] In this embodiment, by irradiating each patch constituting the adjustment pattern 600 formed on the recording medium P with the light EP and performing the measurement, the reflection intensity (optical reflectance) in which the density value of each patch is reflected is detected. In the case of the white recording medium P, the reflection intensity is strongly detected, and the darker the density of the patch, the weaker the reflection intensity is detected.

[0078] In S909, the CPU 301 stores the density value of each patch, which is the measurement result, in the RAM 303 of the control unit 300, and the process ends.

[0079] Figure 9(b) is a flowchart showing the process of generating color correction parameters, correcting the input image data for recording, and recording the image.

[0080] In S910, the CPU 301 acquires the density value of each patch that constitutes the adjustment pattern 600 saved as a result of the process in the flowchart of Figure 9(a).

[0081] In S911, the CPU 301 generates color correction parameters for correcting the input image data based on the density value of each patch acquired in S910.

[0082] In S912, the CPU 301 acquires the image data input for recording, which is included in a print job or the like.

[0083] In S913, the CPU 301 corrects the input image data by applying the color correction parameters generated in S911 to the input image data. By this correction, the input image data can be corrected so that a reference color having a color target value is reproduced on the recording medium P.

[0084] In S914, the CPU 301 controls each drive circuit 305 to 308 based on the corrected image data, and records the image indicated by the input image data on the recording medium.

[0085] Note that the processing of each step in the flowchart of Figure 9 may be performed by a control device different from the recording device 1 having a CPU, ROM, and RAM, or may be performed by the processor of the host device (PC) 312.

[0086] As described above, when the adjustment pattern 600 is recorded so as to straddle any end of the air blow units 10-1 to 10-4, the recorded adjustment pattern 600 is dried by the plurality of air blow units 10-1 to 10-4. The air blow units 10-1 to 10-4 may have varying drying performance. When the adjustment pattern 600 is dried by the plurality of air blow units 10-1 to 10-4, density unevenness may occur in the adjustment pattern 600. Even when the adjustment pattern 600 recorded by the plurality of fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 is dried, density unevenness may occur in the image of the adjustment pattern 600. Therefore, a recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 is set in an area that does not straddle any area of the air blow units among the air blow units 10-1 to 10-4 and an area that does not straddle any area of the fixing units among the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0087] Thus, in this embodiment, when performing calibration of a recording apparatus including a drying apparatus composed of a plurality of drying units, the recording area where the adjustment pattern 600 is recorded is determined based on the positions of the plurality of drying units. By recording the adjustment pattern 600 in the recording area set in this way, the adjustment pattern 600 can be recorded in the recording area while suppressing the influence of the variation in drying performance of the plurality of air blow units 10-1 to 10-4 or the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the color correction parameters can be appropriately updated as needed, a decrease in the accuracy of calibration can be suppressed. For this reason, a stable image without color variation can be output.

[0088] In addition, since the difference in the drying performance of the drying units will inevitably occur, if an attempt is made to reduce density unevenness by adjusting the temperature of the warm air of each individual drying unit, the burden on the user will increase. According to the method of this embodiment, while suppressing the burden on the user, the influence of individual differences of the drying units can be suppressed and the adjustment pattern can be recorded on the recording medium.

[0089] Incidentally, the description has been given assuming that the density value detected by the optical sensor 2 is acquired as the measured value of the adjustment pattern 600 for obtaining the color correction parameters. The measured value of the adjustment pattern 600 for obtaining the color correction parameters is not limited to the density value. For example, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the CMYK value, L*a*b* value, XYZ value, or RGB value of each patch of the adjustment pattern 600 is acquired using a device capable of acquiring color values.

[0090] Incidentally, the recording device 1 may be an inkjet recording device that can also be used for recording on a normal recording medium that is not low-permeability. In this case, the recording device 1 may switch the calibration method according to the type of the recording medium being conveyed. For example, when it is determined that a low-permeability recording medium is being conveyed, the CPU 301 may switch the calibration method to the method described in FIG. 9. Further, when it is determined that a normal recording medium is being conveyed, the CPU 301 may switch to calibration for performing recording without performing either air drying or fixing drying. In this case, the CPU 301 may set a recording area straddling the broken line Q1 or the broken line Q2.

[0091] <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, the recording device 1 having the platen air blower 10 composed of the air blower units 10-1 to 10-4 and the fixing device 11 composed of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 has been described. In the present embodiment, a method for setting the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 in a recording device that has the platen air blower 10 but does not have the fixing device 11 will be described. Regarding the present embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. The same configurations and processes as those in the first embodiment apply to parts not specifically specified. In the present embodiment, the process of performing fixing drying in S906 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 is skipped.

[0092] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting a recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 in the second embodiment. In FIG. 11, the X direction is the moving direction of the carriage 5, and the Y direction is the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The rectangle showing the four blower units 10-1 to 10-4 shown in FIG. 11 indicates the position and size of the hot air outlets of the blower units 10-1 to 10-4 respectively. The broken line Q1 indicates the position of the X-direction end of the outlet of any one of the blower units 10-1 to 10-4.

[0093] In the present embodiment, in S903, the CPU 301 sets the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 in an area that does not cross the broken line Q1. For example, in S903, the CPU 301 sets the area T2 shown in FIG. 11 as the recording area. Note that the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 is not limited to the area T2 shown in FIG. 11. The recording area may be any area that does not cross the broken line Q1.

[0094] Note that even in the recording apparatus 1 equipped with the platen blower device 10 and the fixing device 11 as in the recording apparatus 1 described in the first embodiment, there may be a case where image recording is performed using only the platen blower device 10 according to the ink or recording medium used. Even in this case, according to the method of the present embodiment, the adjustment pattern 600 may be recorded by setting the area T2 as shown in FIG. 11 as the recording area.

[0095] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the occurrence of density unevenness of the recorded adjustment pattern 600 caused by variations in the drying performance of the plurality of blower units 10-1 to 10-4 is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the calibration accuracy.

[0096] <Third Embodiment> In this embodiment, a method for setting the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 in a recording apparatus that is equipped with the fixing device 11 but not with the platen air blower 10 will be described. Regarding this embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. For parts not specifically stated, the configurations and processes are the same as those in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the process of performing air blowing and drying in S904 of the flowchart in FIG. 9 is skipped.

[0097] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a method for setting the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 in this embodiment. In FIG. 12, the X direction is the moving direction of the carriage 5, and the Y direction is the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The rectangle showing the six fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 that constitute the fixing device 11 shown in FIG. 12 indicates the positions and sizes of the hot air outlets of the respective fixing units 11-1 to 11-6. The broken line Q2 indicates the position of the X-direction end of the outlet of any one of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0098] In this embodiment, in S903, the CPU 301 sets the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 in an area that does not straddle the broken line Q2. For example, in S903, the CPU 301 sets the area T3 shown in FIG. 12 as the recording area. Note that the position and size of the area T3 shown in FIG. 12 are an example of the recording area, and the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 set in this embodiment is not limited to the area T3 illustrated in FIG. 12. The recording area may be any area that does not straddle the broken line Q2. Note that even in the recording apparatus 1 having the platen air blower 10 and the fixing device 11 as described in the first embodiment, there may be cases where only the fixing device 11 is used to record an image according to the ink or recording medium used. In this case, according to the method of this embodiment, a recording area such as the area T3 shown in FIG. 12 may be set.

[0099] As described above, according to this embodiment, since the occurrence of density unevenness in the adjustment pattern caused by variations in the drying performance of the plurality of fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 is reduced, a decrease in the calibration accuracy can be suppressed.

[0100] <Fourth Embodiment> In this embodiment, a method for setting the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600 will be described in consideration of the cause of density unevenness. The recording apparatus of this embodiment is equipped with a platen blower 10 and a fixing device 11, similar to the first embodiment, and a method for setting the recording area when performing adjustment pattern 600 recording on the recording medium P through blowing drying and fixing drying will be described. Regarding the embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment. For parts not specifically stated, the configuration and processing are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0101] FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the method of setting the recording area of the adjustment pattern 600. In FIG. 13, the X direction is the width direction of the recording medium P, which is the moving direction of the carriage 5 (recording head 4), and the Y direction is the conveyance direction of the recording medium P. In FIG. 13, similar to FIG. 10, the position of the drying unit corresponding to the conveyed recording medium P is shown as a rectangle. The rectangles showing the four blower units 10-1 to 10-4 shown in FIG. 13 indicate the positions and sizes of the hot air outlets of the blower units 10-1 to 10-4 respectively. Also, the rectangles showing the six fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 shown in FIG. 13 indicate the positions and sizes of the hot air outlets of the six fixing units 11-1 to 11-6 respectively. The dashed line Q1 indicates the position of the X-direction end of the outlet of any one of the blower units 10-1 to 10-4. The dashed line Q2 indicates the position of the X-direction end of the outlet of any one of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6.

[0102] In this embodiment, a threshold is set, and for the patches constituting the adjustment pattern 600, the recording areas of the patch group with a recording duty less than the threshold and the patch group with a recording duty greater than or equal to the threshold are set respectively. In this embodiment, the threshold is set to 100%.

[0103] As described in the first embodiment, the density unevenness that occurs when recording image data with a recording duty of less than 100% is caused by variations in the drying performance of the air blow units 10-1 to 10-4. Among the patches constituting the adjustment pattern 600 in FIG. 6, a patch group with a recording duty of 10 to 90% for each color is defined as the first adjustment pattern. Then, the recording area of the first adjustment pattern is set in an area that does not cross the broken line Q1. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the area T4 is set as the recording area of the first adjustment pattern. The recording area of the first adjustment pattern may be set in an area that crosses the broken line Q2.

[0104] Also, as described in the first embodiment, the density unevenness that occurs when recording image data with a recording duty of 100% or more is caused by variations in the drying performance of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6. Among the patches constituting the adjustment pattern 600 in FIG. 6, a patch group with a recording duty of 100 to 160% for each color is defined as the second adjustment pattern. Then, the recording area of the second adjustment pattern is set in an area that does not cross the broken line Q2, which is one of the ends of the fixing units 11-1 to 11-6. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, recording is performed in the area T5. The recording area of the first adjustment pattern may be set in an area that crosses the broken line Q1.

[0105] Note that the recording area for recording the adjustment pattern 600 is not limited to the areas T4 and T5 shown in FIG. 13. The recording area of the first adjustment pattern may be any area that does not cross the broken line Q1. The recording area of the second adjustment pattern may be any area that does not cross the broken line Q2.

[0106] As described above, in this embodiment, the adjustment pattern 600 is divided according to the value of the recording duty of the patches constituting the adjustment pattern 600, and a recording area is set for each of the divided adjustment patterns. Therefore, compared with the first embodiment, patches of a larger size can be recorded. Also, in this embodiment, the recording area is set by varying the area for each of the divided adjustment patterns 600. Therefore, in some cases, the recording area can be set larger than the recording area set by the method of the first embodiment. Thus, in this embodiment, the recording area can be set so that the size of the patches constituting the adjustment pattern becomes larger. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to measure the density value of the patches more stably and improve the calibration accuracy.

[0107] In this embodiment, the threshold is set to 100%, and the recording area is set by dividing it into a first adjustment pattern, which is a group of patches corresponding to a recording duty less than the threshold, and a second adjustment pattern, which is a group of patches corresponding to a recording duty equal to or greater than the threshold. The reason for setting the threshold to 100% is that it is assumed that the cause of density unevenness changes depending on whether the recording duty is 100% or more when 1 dot is set to 100% at 1200 dpi. The value of the recording duty at which the cause of density unevenness changes is not limited to 100% and varies depending on the recording medium and ink used. Therefore, the threshold may be changed according to the value of the recording duty at which the cause of density unevenness changes.

[0108] <Other Embodiments> Although the regions T1 to T5 described in the above-described embodiment have been described as being set at one location each, a plurality of regions T1 to T5 may be provided. For example, in the first embodiment, as the recording area, a plurality of recording areas that do not straddle the broken line Q1 and the broken line Q2 may be set, the adjustment pattern 600 may be recorded in each of the plurality of recording areas, and the measured density values may be averaged to generate color correction parameters.

[0109] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a program that implements one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and causing one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus to read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that implements one or more functions.

[0110] The disclosure of the above-described embodiments includes the following configurations.

[0111] (Configuration 1) A transport unit that transports a recording medium along a transport direction, a recording unit that discharges a liquid onto the transported recording medium, and a drying unit that is configured by a plurality of drying units arranged in a width direction intersecting the transport direction and dries the liquid discharged onto the recording medium. A control device that controls a recording apparatus having the above, Setting means for setting an area on the recording medium where a calibration adjustment pattern is recorded based on information on positions where each of the plurality of drying units is arranged, Execution means for causing the recording means to record the adjustment pattern in the set area on the recording medium and executing the calibration based on the recorded adjustment pattern. A control device characterized by having the above.

[0112] (Configuration 2) The recording apparatus further includes measuring means for measuring an area on the recording medium where a liquid is discharged. The execution means executes the calibration based on a result measured by the measuring means for the adjustment pattern recorded by the recording means. The control device according to Configuration 1, characterized by the above.

[0113] (Configuration 3) The setting means acquires information on positions of end portions in the width direction of each of the plurality of drying units, and sets the area so as not to straddle the positions of the end portions on the recording medium. The control device according to Configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that...

[0114] (Configuration 4) The drying means is composed of a plurality of drying means, and each of the plurality of drying means is composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in the width direction. The setting means acquires information on the positions of the ends in the width direction of the plurality of drying units for each of the plurality of drying means, and sets the region so as not to straddle any of the acquired positions of the ends. The control device according to Configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that...

[0115] (Configuration 5) The adjustment pattern is composed of a plurality of patches corresponding to values of recording duty. The setting means... sets, as the region, a first region for recording patches corresponding to a recording duty smaller than a threshold among the plurality of patches, and a second region for recording patches corresponding to a recording duty value of the threshold or more among the plurality of patches. The control device according to Configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that...

[0116] (Configuration 6) The drying means is composed of a first drying means for performing blowing drying and a second drying means for performing fixing drying. The first drying means is composed of a plurality of first drying units arranged in the width direction. The second drying means is composed of a plurality of second drying units arranged in the width direction. The control device according to Configuration 5, characterized in that...

[0117] (Configuration 7) The setting means... acquires information on a first position which is the position of the end in the width direction of each of the plurality of first drying units, and sets the first region so as not to straddle the first position on the recording medium. The control device according to Configuration 6, characterized in that...

[0118] (Configuration 8) The setting means acquires information on a second position that is the position of an end portion in the width direction of each of the plurality of second drying units, and sets the second region so as not to straddle the second position on the recording medium. The control device according to Configuration 6 or 7, characterized in that...

[0119] (Configuration 9) The drying means is a device for blow-drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium. The control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that...

[0120] (Configuration 10) The drying means is a device for fixing and drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium. The control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that...

[0121] (Configuration 11) The setting means sets a plurality of the regions. The control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that...

[0122] (Configuration 12) The recording means is configured to discharge a plurality of types of liquids. The control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that...

[0123] (Configuration 13) The drying unit has a fan, a heater, and an air outlet, and is configured to blow out warm air from the air outlet. An end portion in the width direction of the drying unit is an end portion in the width direction of the air outlet. The control device according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that...

[0124] (Configuration 14) Furthermore, there is a switching means for switching the calibration method according to the type of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means. When the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means is a low-permeability recording medium, the switching means causes the setting means to set the area based on the information of the position. The control device according to any one of aspects 1 to 13, characterized in that.

[0125] (Aspect 15) A conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a conveying direction, A recording means for discharging a liquid onto the conveyed recording medium, A drying means for drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium, which is composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction, Each means of the control device according to any one of aspects 1 to 14, An inkjet recording apparatus, characterized by comprising.

[0126] (Aspect 16) A conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a conveying direction, a recording means for discharging a liquid onto the conveyed recording medium, and a drying means for drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium, which is composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction, A control method for a recording apparatus, comprising: A setting step of setting an area on the recording medium where an adjustment pattern for calibration is recorded based on information on positions where each of the plurality of drying units is arranged; An execution step of causing the recording means to record the adjustment pattern in the set area on the recording medium and executing the calibration based on the recorded adjustment pattern; A control method, characterized by comprising.

[0127] (Aspect 17) A program for causing a computer to function as each step of the control device according to any one of aspects 1 to 14.

Explanation of Symbols

[0128] 4 Recording head 1 Inkjet recording device 300 Control unit

Claims

1. A control device for controlling a recording apparatus having: a conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a conveying direction; a recording means for discharging a liquid onto the conveyed recording medium; and a drying means configured by a plurality of drying units arranged in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction for drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium, a setting means for setting a region on the recording medium where an adjustment pattern for calibration is recorded based on information on positions where each of the plurality of drying units is arranged; an execution means for causing the recording means to record the adjustment pattern in the set region on the recording medium and executing the calibration based on the recorded adjustment pattern; The control device is characterized by comprising the above.

2. The recording apparatus further has a measuring means for measuring a region on the recording medium where the liquid is discharged, and the execution means executes the calibration based on a result measured by the measuring means for the adjustment pattern recorded by the recording means. The control device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The setting means acquires information on positions of ends in the width direction of each of the plurality of drying units and sets the region so as not to straddle the positions of the ends on the recording medium. The control device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

4. The drying means is composed of a plurality of drying means, and each of the plurality of drying means is composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in the width direction, and the setting means acquires information on positions of ends in the width direction of the plurality of drying units for each of the plurality of drying means and sets the region so as not to straddle any of the acquired positions of the ends. The control device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

5. The adjustment pattern is composed of a plurality of patches corresponding to values of recording duty, and the setting means sets, as the region, a first region for recording patches corresponding to a recording duty smaller than a threshold among the plurality of patches and a second region for recording patches corresponding to a recording duty value of the threshold or more among the plurality of patches. The control device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

6. The drying means includes a first drying means for performing blowing drying and a second drying means for performing fixing drying. The first drying means is composed of a plurality of first drying units arranged in the width direction, and the second drying means is composed of a plurality of second drying units arranged in the width direction. The control device according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. The setting means acquires information on a first position that is the position of the end in the width direction of each of the plurality of first drying units, and sets the first region so as not to straddle the first position on the recording medium. The control device according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. The setting means acquires information on a second position that is the position of the end in the width direction of each of the plurality of second drying units, and sets the second region so as not to straddle the second position on the recording medium. The control device according to claim 6, characterized in that.

9. The drying means is a device for blowing drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

10. The drying means is a device for fixing and drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

11. The setting means sets a plurality of the regions. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

12. The recording means is configured to discharge a plurality of types of liquids. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

13. The drying unit has a fan, a heater, and an air outlet, and is configured to blow out warm air from the air outlet. The end in the width direction of the drying unit is the end in the width direction of the air outlet. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

14. The control device further includes a switching means for switching the calibration method according to the type of the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means. When the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means is a low-permeability recording medium, the switching means causes the setting means to set the region based on the position information. The control device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

15. Conveying means for conveying the recording medium along the conveying direction, Recording means for discharging liquid onto the conveyed recording medium, It is composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in the width direction intersecting the conveying direction, and drying means for drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium. Each means of the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14. An inkjet recording apparatus characterized by comprising the same.

16. A conveying means for conveying a recording medium along a conveying direction, a recording means for discharging a liquid onto the conveyed recording medium, and drying means composed of a plurality of drying units arranged in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction for drying the liquid discharged onto the recording medium. A control method for a recording apparatus having the same, A setting step of setting a region on the recording medium where an adjustment pattern for calibration is recorded based on information on positions where each of the plurality of drying units is arranged. An execution step of causing the recording means to record the adjustment pattern in the set region with respect to the recording medium and executing the calibration based on the recorded adjustment pattern. A control method characterized by comprising the same.

17. A program for causing a computer to function as each step of the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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