Recording device, control device, and program

Abstract

To provide a technology which is capable of accurately acquiring a deviation amount of a discharge position of reaction liquid with respect to a discharge position of ink for a variety of recording media.SOLUTION: A recording device is composed of a plurality of patterns which are formed by two inks of a plurality of inks and reaction liquid and displaces a discharge position of the reaction liquid with respect to discharge positions of the two ink for a prescribed amount, records a plurality of test patterns that have different recording conditions, detects optical characteristic for each of the test patterns recorded, and acquires a deviation amount at a discharge position of the reaction liquid relative to discharge positions of the plurality of inks on the basis an optical characteristic among optical characteristics of the plurality of the test patterns detected in which difference in optical density between adjacent patterns is larger than prescribed value and a pattern of the lowest level of optical density is identifiable as significant difference.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device that records by fixing ink on a recording medium using a reactive liquid that reacts with the ink, a control device that controls the recording device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid from the ejection position of the ink in a recording device that ejects a reaction liquid that reacts with the ejected ink. Specifically, a plurality of patterns with different amounts of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid are used for a pattern in which two inks are brought into contact on a recording medium to cause bleeding. Then, the amount of deviation between the ejection position of the ink and the ejection position of the reaction liquid is acquired based on the optical characteristics of each pattern in which the degree of bleeding is varied depending on the amount of deviation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-138494 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, a recording device is required to record on various recording media with different ink absorbencies. When different inks are brought into contact with recording media with different ink absorbencies, the degree of bleeding varies. For this reason, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if a pattern that causes bleeding suitable for obtaining the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid from the ejection position of the ink is used for a specific recording medium, there is a risk that the amount of deviation cannot be obtained accurately.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that can accurately obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of ink for various recording media. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides a recording device that ejects and records a plurality of mutually different inks and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks onto a recording medium, a detection device that can detect the optical density of a recorded matter, a control device that controls the recording device to record a test pattern formed of two of the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid, the test pattern being composed of a plurality of patterns in which the ejection position of the reaction liquid is shifted by a predetermined amount relative to the ejection positions of the two inks, and that controls the detection device to detect optical characteristics of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium, and and an acquisition means for acquiring the amount of deviation of the relative ejection position of the reaction liquid with respect to the ejection positions of the multiple inks based on the characteristics, and correcting and recording the ejection positions of at least one of the multiple inks or the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation, wherein the control means records multiple test patterns with different recording conditions and then detects the optical characteristics of each of the recorded test patterns, and the acquisition means acquires the amount of deviation based on optical characteristics among the detected optical characteristics of the multiple test patterns that have a difference in optical density between adjacent patterns that is greater than a predetermined value and can identify a pattern with the lowest level of optical density as a significant difference. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid from the ejection position of the ink for various recording media. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a main part of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical sensor. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an ink ejection port surface of a recording head. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the printing apparatus. [Figure 6] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a test pattern using color inks and a test pattern using a reaction liquid; [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a test pattern using the pattern in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] A diagram illustrating the bleeding of two color inks. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing optical characteristics of a test pattern. [Figure 10] 6A and 6B are diagrams showing differences in printing conditions for a plurality of test patterns. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of an acquisition process. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing optical characteristics in a plurality of test patterns depending on the absorbency of a recording medium. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart of an acquisition process executed by a recording device according to another embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart of an acquisition process executed by a recording device according to another embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart of an acquisition process executed by a recording device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a recording device, a control device, and a program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiment does not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiment are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. Furthermore, the relative positions and shapes of the components described in the embodiment are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to only these.

[0010] In the following description, a recording device using an inkjet recording method will be described as an example. The recording device may be, for example, a single-function printer having only a recording function, or a multifunction printer having multiple functions such as a recording function, a fax function, and a scanner function. Alternatively, the recording device may be a manufacturing device for manufacturing color filters, electronic devices, optical devices, microstructures, etc. using a predetermined recording method.

[0011] In addition, "recording" does not only refer to the formation of meaningful information such as characters and figures, but also includes cases where images, patterns, structures, etc. are formed on a recording medium, or where the medium is processed, regardless of whether they are visible to humans or not. "Recording medium" includes not only paper used in general recording devices, but also cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, resin, wood, leather, and other materials that can accept ink.

[0012] (First embodiment) First, a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 12. The recording apparatus according to this embodiment is a so-called serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus that ejects ink by an inkjet method onto a conveyed recording medium while moving in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction.

[0013] <Recording device configuration> Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a heating section in the recording apparatus. The recording apparatus 10 in Fig. 1 includes a platen 12 that supports a recording medium P transported by a transport section (not shown), and a recording section 14 that performs recording on the recording medium P supported by the platen 12. The recording apparatus 10 also includes a heating section 16 (see Fig. 2) that heats a recording surface Pf of the recording medium P after recording. The overall operation of the recording apparatus 10 is controlled by a control section 100 (described later).

[0014] The conveying section conveys the sheet-like recording medium P, which is unwound from the roll paper 27 and fed, to the platen 12 by a conveying roller 23 driven via a gear by a conveying motor (not shown) (see FIG. 2). After recording, the recording medium P is taken up by a spool 21. The conveying mechanism of the conveying section is not limited to this, and various known technologies can be used.

[0015] The recording unit 14 includes a carriage 22 movably mounted on a guide shaft 20, and a recording head 24 detachably mounted on the carriage 22 and configured to eject ink onto a recording medium P supported by a platen 12. The guide shaft 20 extends in an X direction intersecting (orthogonal in this embodiment) the Y direction in which the recording medium P is transported, and the carriage 22 is configured to be capable of reciprocating along the guide shaft 20 in the +X direction and the -X direction. The recording head 24 includes a plurality of ejection ports 32 (described later) for ejecting ink, and is mounted on the carriage 22 so that an ejection port surface 34 (see FIG. 2) in which the ejection ports 32 are formed faces the platen 12. As a result, in the recording device 10, the recording head 24 is configured to eject ink while moving back and forth in the ±X direction. As a specific moving mechanism for the carriage 22, various known techniques can be used, such as a carriage belt that transmits driving force from a carriage motor or a mechanism using a lead screw.

[0016] The recording device 10 is provided with a linear encoder (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "encoder") 30 extending in the X direction, and the position of the recording head 24 is controlled by the control unit 100 based on a signal from the linear encoder 30. The recording head 24 is configured to be capable of ejecting ink containing coloring material and a reaction liquid that reacts with the ink to promote thickening and solidification of the ink. In this specification, the ink containing coloring material is simply referred to as ink or color ink as appropriate. In this embodiment, the color inks ejected from the recording head 24 are black ink (K ink), cyan ink (C ink), magenta ink (M ink), and yellow ink (Y ink). These four color inks are pigment inks containing coloring materials that exhibit the corresponding colors. The colors and number of the ejected inks are not limited to the above four colors.

[0017] In the recording device 10, the recording unit 14, i.e., the recording head 24, moves at a speed of, for example, 45 inch / sec, and performs recording at a resolution of 1200 dpi (1 / 1200 inch). When recording starts, the recording device 10 moves the recording head 24 to a recording start position, and conveys the recording medium P to a position where the recording head 24 can perform recording by the conveying unit. Next, based on the recording data, a recording operation is performed in which ink is discharged while moving (scanning) the recording head 24 in the +X direction (or -X direction), and when the recording operation is completed, a conveying operation is performed in which the recording medium P is conveyed by the conveying unit by a predetermined amount. Thereafter, a recording operation is performed in which ink is discharged while moving the recording head 24 in the -X direction (or +X direction). In this way, the recording device 10 performs recording on the recording medium P by alternately and repeatedly performing the recording operation and the conveying operation. Note that in this embodiment, for example, a multi-pass recording is performed in which the recording unit 14 is scanned multiple times to record on a unit area on the recording medium.

[0018] The heating unit 16 applies heat to the recording surface Pf of the recording medium P on which ink (and reaction liquid) is ejected from the recording unit 14 and recorded, thereby heating the recording surface Pf and the ink applied to the recording surface Pf and fixing the ink to the recording surface Pf. The heating unit 16 is covered with a cover 17, which has the function of efficiently reflecting the heat of the heating unit 16 onto the recording medium P and the function of protecting the heating unit 16. For example, various heaters such as a sheath heater and a halogen heater can be used as the heating unit 16. The heating unit 16 may be configured to heat not only by such a non-contact type thermal conduction heater, but also by using hot air for heating.

[0019] The heating unit 16 is not limited to a configuration in which the recording medium P is heated from the recording surface Pf as shown in Fig. 2. For example, the heating unit 16 may be located downstream in the +Y direction of the platen 12, and provided vertically below (upstream in the +Z direction) a guide unit 19 that guides the recording medium P after recording, and configured to heat the recording medium P from the back surface Pb. The heating temperature by the heating unit 16 is set in consideration of the fixability of the ink, the productivity of the recorded matter, and the like. Furthermore, a plurality of heating units 16 may be provided.

[0020] Although details will be described later, the ink used in the recording device 10 contains a pigment, resin particles, and a water-soluble organic solvent. Therefore, in the recording device 10, the resin particles contained in the ink are heated by the heating unit 16 to melt the resin particles, and further, the water-soluble organic solvent in the ink is evaporated, thereby fixing the pigment to the recording medium.

[0021] Ink containing resin particles has the property of improving abrasion resistance (fixability). Therefore, the heating temperature is desirably equal to or higher than the minimum film-forming temperature of the resin particles, and it is necessary to evaporate most of the liquid components in the ink, such as the water-soluble organic solvent, during heating. Therefore, the heating unit 16 is configured to have a temperature distribution in the recording medium conveyance direction that ensures a heating time to supply the energy required to evaporate most of the liquid components.

[0022] The recording device 10 also includes a recovery unit (not shown) for maintaining and recovering the good ejection state of the ink and reaction liquid from the ejection ports 32 of the recording head 24. This recovery unit is provided adjacent to the platen 12 near the end of the recording head 24 in the scanning direction (movement direction). The recovery unit may be of any known configuration, such as a wiping unit that wipes the ejection port surface 34 or a cap that protects the ejection port surface 34.

[0023] Furthermore, the recording device 10 is provided with a reflective optical sensor (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as an "optical sensor") 200 for detecting optical characteristics of a recording material, on the upstream side of the carriage 22 in the +X direction (see FIG. 2). In the recording device 10, the control unit 100 is capable of detecting an OD (Optical Density) value as a reflective optical characteristic on the recording medium P, based on the detection result by the optical sensor 200. Note that the installation position of the optical sensor 200 is not limited to this. That is, the optical sensor 200 may be provided on the downstream side of the carriage 22 in the +X direction, or on the downstream side in the +Y direction. Alternatively, the optical sensor 200 may be provided independently of the carriage 22 and configured to be movable in the X direction, or may be configured to extend in the X direction across the width of the recording medium.

[0024] <Optical sensor> Fig. 3(a) is a schematic diagram of the optical sensor, and Fig. 3(b) is a diagram showing a detection spot. The optical sensor 200 is fixedly provided on the carriage 22 so that a measurement region is located downstream in the +Y direction from an ejection port array 33 (described later) of the recording head 24. A lower surface 200a of the optical sensor 200 coincides with the ejection port surface 34 in the Z direction, or is located downstream of the ejection port surface 34 in the +Z direction.

[0025] The optical sensor 200 includes a light emitting unit 302 realized by a visible LED of red, green, blue, etc., and a light receiving unit 304 realized by a photodiode. The light emitting unit 302 and the light receiving unit 304 are provided on the lower surface 200a of the optical sensor 200, and the light emitting unit 302 irradiates light onto the recording medium P, and the light receiving unit 304 receives the reflected light reflected by the recording medium P. Therefore, in the optical sensor 200, the light 306 irradiated from the light emitting unit 302 is diffusely reflected by the recording medium P, and the reflected light 308 is received by the light receiving unit 304. The diameter of the detection spot 310 where the light 306 irradiated from the light emitting unit 302 is diffusely reflected by the recording medium P is, for example, approximately 3 mm in diameter.

[0026] In the light receiving unit 304, a detection signal (analog signal) of the received reflected light 308 is transmitted to a control circuit on an electric board of the recording device 10 via a flexible cable (not shown) or the like, and is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter in the control circuit. When detecting the optical characteristics of the test pattern described later, the conveyance of the recording medium P in the Y direction and the movement of the carriage 22 to which the optical sensor 200 is attached in the X direction are alternately performed. As a result, the optical sensor 200 detects the density of the recording result (hereinafter also referred to as "recorded matter") recorded on the recording medium P as an optical reflectance, in synchronization with the timing based on the position signal obtained by the encoder 30. In this way, in the recording device 10, light is irradiated onto each pattern of the test pattern on the recording medium P, and the reflection intensity reflecting the density of the pattern is detected. The reflection intensity is strong for a white recording medium P, and the reflection intensity is weaker for a pattern with a higher density.

[0027] <Recording head configuration> Next, the configuration of the recording head 24 will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the discharge port surface of the recording head 24. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the discharge port surface 34 as viewed from the +Z direction. The discharge port surface 34 of the recording head 24 is formed with discharge port arrays 33 in which a plurality of discharge ports 32 for discharging corresponding liquids are arranged along the Y direction. Specifically, the discharge port surface 34 is formed with a discharge port array 33K for discharging K ink, a discharge port array 33C for discharging C ink, a discharge port array 33M for discharging M ink, a discharge port array 33Y for discharging Y ink, and a discharge port array 33RCT for discharging reaction liquid RCT, in this order in the +X direction.

[0028] As described above, the reactive liquid RCT reacts with the color ink to promote the solidification and thickening of the color ink. Specifically, the reactive liquid RCT does not contain coloring material, but contains a reactive component that reacts with the coloring material contained in the color ink, and solidifies and thickens the color ink by contacting with the color ink. As a result, the reactive liquid RCT suppresses bleeding of the color ink on the recording medium P.

[0029] In this embodiment, in each ejection port array 33, 1280 ejection ports 32 are arranged in the Y direction at intervals of 1200 dpi. The ejection amount of liquid (color ink and reaction liquid) ejected from one ejection port 32 at one time is, for example, about 4.5 pl. In addition, each ejection port array 33 is connected to a tank (not shown) that stores the corresponding liquid, and the ink and reaction liquid are supplied from the tank. The tank may be configured integrally with the recording head 24, or may be configured to be detachable from the carriage 22.

[0030] <Color ink and reaction liquid> Next, the color inks and reaction liquids used in the recording device 10 will be described.

[0031] =Color ink= In this embodiment, the recording device 10 can use pigment ink containing a pigment, or water-soluble resin fine particle ink containing no pigment or a small amount of pigment. These pigment inks and water-soluble resin fine particle inks contain a water-soluble organic solvent. Various surfactants, defoamers, preservatives, antifungal agents, etc. can be added appropriately to the color inks to give them desired properties as necessary.

[0032] The color ink contains water-soluble resin particles for adhering the recording medium P and the coloring material to improve the abrasion resistance (fixability) of the recorded image. The resin particles are dissolved by heat, and a heater (heating unit 16, etc.) is used to form a film of the resin particles and to dry the solvent contained in the ink. In this embodiment, the resin particles are polymer particles that exist in a state of being dispersed in water. The polymer particles that exist in a state of being dispersed in water may be in the form of resin particles obtained by homopolymerizing a monomer having a dissociable group or copolymerizing multiple types of monomers, that is, a so-called self-dispersing resin particle dispersion.

[0033] The color inks contain a surfactant. A penetrant is used as the surfactant to improve the permeability of the color inks into the recording medium P for inkjet printing. In this embodiment, the surface tension of each color ink is adjusted to be 30 dyn / cm or less, and the difference in surface tension between the color inks is adjusted to be within 2 dyn / cm. Specifically, the surface tension of each color ink is set to be about 28 to 30 dyn / cm.

[0034] In addition, the color ink preferably has a pH of 7.0 or more and 10.0 or less, from the viewpoint of preventing impurities from eluting from the members in contact with the ink in the recording device 10 and the recording head 24, deterioration of the materials constituting the members, and a decrease in the solubility of the pigment dispersion resin in the ink. The color inks used in this embodiment use anionic coloring materials. Therefore, the pH of each color ink is stable on the alkaline side, and the value is 8.5 to 9.5.

[0035] =Reaction solution= The reaction liquid contains a reactive component that reacts with the pigment contained in each color ink to aggregate or gel the pigment, or a reactive component that reacts with a resin or the like to insolubilize them. The reactive component is, for example, a component that can destroy the dispersion stability of an ink when mixed with an ink having a target component that is stably dispersed in an aqueous medium by the action of an ionic group. As the reactive component, for example, an organic acid such as glutaric acid can be used. The content of the organic acid in the reaction liquid is preferably 3.0% by mass or more and 90.0% by mass or less, and more preferably 5.0% by mass or more and 70.0% by mass or less, based on the total mass of the composition contained in the reaction liquid. A surfactant is also added to the reaction liquid in the same manner as in the color ink.

[0036] <Control configuration of the recording device> Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the control system of the recording device 10. FIG.

[0037] The control unit 100, which controls the entire recording device 10, includes a central processing unit (CPU) 102, a ROM 104, a RAM 106, and a memory 108. The CPU 102 controls the operation of each component in the recording device 10 and processes input image data based on various programs. The ROM 104 functions as a memory that stores various control and image data processing programs executed by the CPU 102. The RAM 106 saves various data used to control the recording device 10. The memory 108 stores various data such as mask patterns and test patterns, which will be described later. The control unit 100 also includes an input / output port 110, and is connected to various drivers and drive circuits via the input / output port 110.

[0038] The control unit 100 is connected to an interface circuit 112 via an input / output port 110, and is connected to a host device 114 via the interface circuit 112. The control unit 100 is also connected to an operation panel 124 that can be operated by a user via the input / output port 110. The user inputs image data to the recording device 10 via the host device 114, and inputs various information to the recording device 10 via the host device 114 and the operation panel 124. The control unit 100 is also connected to a motor driver 116 via the input / output port 110, and controls the driving of a motor 118 via the motor driver 116. In FIG. 5, various motors in the recording device 10, such as a motor that moves the carriage 22 and a motor that drives a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium P, are collectively shown as a motor 118.

[0039] The control unit 100 is also connected to the head driver 120 via the input / output port 110, and controls the recording head 24 via the head driver 120 to eject ink. The control unit 100 is connected to a drive circuit 122 via the input / output port 110, and controls the drive of the heating unit 16 via the drive circuit 122. The control unit 100 is also connected to an optical sensor 200 via the input / output port 110, and controls the drive of the optical sensor 200, and detects the optical characteristics of the test pattern based on the output from the optical sensor 200. In this way, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 and the optical sensor 200 function as a detection unit capable of detecting the optical characteristics of a recording material, which is a recording result recorded on a recording medium.

[0040] In the control unit 100, the CPU 102 converts image data input from the host device 114 into print data and stores it in the RAM 106. Specifically, when the CPU 102 acquires image data represented by 8-bit 256-value information (0 to 255) for each of RGB, the CPU 102 converts this image data into multi-value data represented by multiple types of ink (K, C, M, Y in this embodiment) used for printing. This color conversion process generates multi-value data represented by 8-bit 256-value information (0 to 255) that defines the gradation of each ink of K, C, M, Y in each pixel group consisting of multiple pixels.

[0041] Next, the multi-value data represented by K, C, M, and Y is quantized to generate quantized data (binary data) represented by 1-bit binary information (0, 1) that determines whether or not each of the K, C, M, and Y inks is ejected for each pixel. As the quantization process, various known quantization methods such as an error diffusion method, a dither method, and an index method can be used. After that, a distribution process is performed to distribute the quantized data to a plurality of scans of the recording head 24 for the unit area. This distribution process generates recording data represented by 1-bit binary information (0, 1) that determines whether or not each of the K, C, M, and Y inks is ejected for each pixel in each of the plurality of scans of the unit area of ​​the recording medium P. This distribution process corresponds to the plurality of scans, and is performed using a mask pattern that determines whether or not ink ejection is permitted for each pixel. Note that the generation of such recording data is not limited to being performed by the control unit 100, and may be performed by the host device 114, or a part of the process may be performed by the host device 114 and the remaining process may be performed by the control unit 100.

[0042] <Acquisition process> In the above configuration, the recording device 10 performs a recording process for recording on the recording medium P based on recording data. In this recording process, the recording head 24 ejects ink (reaction liquid) while moving in the X direction via the carriage 22, thereby performing recording on a unit area on the recording medium. During such recording, the color ink and the reaction liquid are basically ejected in a predetermined amount each in the same area. This allows the reaction liquid to come into contact with the color ink at a constant ratio, thereby obtaining an effect of suppressing ink bleeding, which occurs particularly noticeably on non-absorbent recording media. In addition, in the recording device 10, the recording medium P onto which the color ink and the reaction liquid have been ejected is conveyed and passes through the heating section 16, whereby the color ink is heated and dried, and recording is performed by promoting the fixation of the ink even on non-absorbent or poorly absorbent recording media.

[0043] As described above, the recording device 10 needs to eject the color ink and the reaction liquid in the same region. For this reason, the recording device 10 is configured to be able to acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink. In the following description, the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink" is also referred to as the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid". The acquisition process for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink is executed, for example, when the user instructs the start of the acquisition process via the host device 114 or the operation panel 124. The recording device 10 acquires a correction value for correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid acquired in this acquisition process. Then, during the recording process, the reaction liquid is ejected while correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid based on the acquired correction value.

[0044] The acquisition process executed by the recording device 10 to acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink, and the test pattern recorded during the acquisition process will be described in detail below.

[0045] =Test Pattern= First, the test pattern used in the acquisition process will be described. Fig. 6(a) is a diagram showing a pattern formed by color ink in the test pattern, and Fig. 6(b) is a diagram showing a pattern formed by reaction liquid in the test pattern. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a test pattern using the patterns of Fig. 6(a) and (b). Note that Fig. 7 shows the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink, that is, the amount of deviation between the pattern by color ink and the pattern by reaction liquid, below each pattern constituting the test pattern.

[0046] The test pattern 72 is composed of a plurality of patterns formed from a first pattern 62 (see FIG. 6(a)) made of two color inks and a second pattern 64 (see FIG. 6(b)) made of a reaction liquid (see FIG. 7). Specifically, the test pattern 72 is composed of a plurality of patterns juxtaposed, with the second pattern 64 shifted by a predetermined amount in the X direction with respect to the first pattern 62.

[0047] More specifically, the first pattern 62 is formed using two different color inks. For example, K ink and Y ink are used as the two color inks forming the first pattern 62. By using these two color inks, the bleeding portion of the two color inks becomes colored close to K (black), and the optical characteristics (optical density) are significantly different compared to the case where there is no bleeding. In other words, the two color inks used in the first pattern 62 are a combination that shows optical characteristics closer to one of the inks as the bleeding becomes greater.

[0048] In the first pattern 62, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the discharge region Si1 that discharges the two color inks and the non-discharge region Si2 that does not discharge the two color inks are alternately arranged in the X direction. The lengths in the X direction and the Y direction of the discharge region Si1 and the non-discharge region Si2 are the same. In this embodiment, the discharge region Si1 and the non-discharge region Si2 are 4 pixels in the X direction and 16 pixels in the Y direction. In the discharge region Si1, the region S-1 to which one of the two color inks, color ink 1, is discharged and the region S-2 to which the other color ink 2 is discharged are alternately arranged in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the region S-1 and the region S-2 are 4 pixels in the X direction and 2 pixels in the Y direction. Therefore, in the discharge region Si1, four regions S-1 and four regions S-2 are formed.

[0049] 6(b), in the second pattern 64, discharge regions Sr1 that discharge the reaction liquid RCT and regions Sr2 that do not discharge the reaction liquid RCT are arranged alternately in the X direction. The lengths in the X direction and the Y direction of the discharge regions Sr1 and the non-discharge regions Sr2 are the same, and also match the discharge regions Si1 and the non-discharge regions Si2 of the first pattern 62. Therefore, in this embodiment, the discharge regions Sr1 and the non-discharge regions Sr2 are 4 pixels in the X direction and 16 pixels in the Y direction.

[0050] In this embodiment, the test pattern 72 is composed of nine patterns 1 to 9 as shown in FIG. 7. In each pattern, the shift amount in the X direction of the second pattern 64 with respect to the first pattern 62 differs from that of the adjacent pattern by one pixel. Specifically, pattern 1 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by four pixels (-4 pixels) in the -X direction with respect to the first pattern 62. Pattern 2 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by three pixels (-3 pixels) in the -X direction with respect to the first pattern 62. Pattern 3 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by two pixels (-2 pixels) in the -X direction with respect to the first pattern 62. Pattern 4 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by one pixel (-1 pixel) in the -X direction with respect to the first pattern 62. Pattern 5 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by zero pixels with respect to the first pattern 62, that is, a matched pattern. Pattern 6 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by one pixel (+1 pixel) in the +X direction with respect to the first pattern 62. Pattern 7 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by two pixels (+2 pixels) in the +X direction with respect to the first pattern 62. Pattern 8 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by three pixels (+3 pixels) in the +X direction with respect to the first pattern 62. Pattern 9 is a pattern in which the second pattern 64 is shifted by four pixels (+4 pixels) in the +X direction with respect to the first pattern 62.

[0051] In pattern 1, in which the second pattern 64 is shifted in the X direction by -4 pixels relative to the first pattern 62, and pattern 9, in which the second pattern 64 is shifted in the X direction by +4 pixels, there is no overlap between the discharge region Si1 of the first pattern 62 and the discharge region Sr1 of the second pattern 64. On the other hand, in pattern 5, the discharge region Sr1 of the second pattern 64 overlaps the entire discharge region Si1 of the first pattern 62. In test pattern 72, the first pattern 62 and the second pattern 64 are shifted from each other by one pixel with respect to the adjacent patterns, but the amount of shift is not limited to one pixel.

[0052] In this test pattern 72, when there is no deviation in the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink, the first pattern 62 and the second pattern 64 match in pattern 5, that is, the ejection region Sr1 overlaps the entire ejection region Si1. On the other hand, when the ejection position of the reaction liquid is shifted by +3 pixels relative to the ejection position of the color ink, the second pattern 64 is shifted by 3 pixels in the +X direction relative to the first pattern 62 in each pattern. Therefore, in this case, the first pattern 62 and the second pattern 64 match in pattern 2. As a result, it is found that it is necessary to relatively shift the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink by "-3 pixels", which is the deviation amount of pattern 2. In this way, the relative deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink can be obtained from the recording result of the test pattern 72.

[0053] However, if the second pattern 64 is misaligned with respect to the first pattern 62, bleeding is likely to occur in the adjacent portions of the regions S-1 and S-2 onto which the two color inks are discharged. FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are diagrams for explaining bleeding of the two color inks in the first pattern discharged in the test pattern. For example, when the first pattern 62 and the second pattern 64 match, that is, when the discharge region Sr1 matches and overlaps with the entire region on the discharge region Si1, the bleeding of the color inks 1 and 2 is small as shown in FIG. 8(a). On the other hand, when the first pattern 62 and the second pattern 64 do not overlap, that is, when the discharge region Si1 and the discharge region Sr1 do not overlap, the bleeding of the color inks 1 and 2 is large as shown in FIG. 8(b).

[0054] The optical characteristics differ when the bleeding is small and when the bleeding is large. For example, when K ink and Y ink are used as the two color inks, the K ink and Y ink mix together in the bleeding area, and are strongly influenced by the optical characteristics of the K ink, approaching the optical characteristics of the K ink. For this reason, when the bleeding between color inks 1 and 2 is large, the optical characteristics of the K ink are more prominent.

[0055] The optical characteristics of the test pattern 72 using the first pattern 62 and the second pattern 64 are as shown in Fig. 9 when there is no deviation in the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the optical characteristics of the test pattern when there is no deviation in the relative ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink. In Fig. 9, the horizontal axis shows each pattern of the test pattern 72, and the vertical axis shows the optical density (OD value). The optical characteristics of the test pattern 72 are expressed based on the optical density of each pattern.

[0056] When there is no deviation in the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink, in pattern 5 where the deviation amount is "0 pixels", the ejection area Sr1 of the reaction liquid overlaps the entire ejection area Si1 of the color ink. When the two color inks used in test pattern 72 are K ink and Y ink, there is little bleeding, so the optical characteristics of the K ink are relatively weakly expressed, and the optical density shows a low value. And, as the deviation amount increases, the overlap between the ejection area Si1 and the ejection area Sr1 decreases, and bleeding increases. For this reason, as the deviation amount increases, the optical characteristics of the K ink are more strongly expressed, and the optical density shows a high value.

[0057] Therefore, when there is a shift between the ejection position of the color ink and the ejection position of the reaction liquid, the optical density becomes the lowest in the pattern where the amount of shift in the ejection position of the reaction liquid and the amount of shift in the test pattern 72 are offset and there is no shift. The recording device 10 uses this phenomenon to identify the pattern with the lowest optical density, thereby obtaining the amount of shift in the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink. For example, when the optical density becomes the lowest in pattern 2 of the test pattern 72, this cancels out the amount of shift in pattern 2, "-3 pixels," and therefore "+3 pixels" can be obtained as the amount of shift in the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink.

[0058] Here, the degree of bleeding of the color inks ejected onto the recording medium varies greatly depending on the characteristics of the recording medium, i.e., its absorbency for liquids such as ink. For example, bleeding is less likely to occur on a recording medium with high absorbency, bleeding is more likely to occur on a recording medium with low absorbency, and bleeding occurs significantly on a non-absorbent or poorly absorbent recording medium. For this reason, when the bleeding of two inks is used to obtain the amount of deviation of the relative ejection position of the reaction liquid with respect to the ejection position of the color ink, the way in which bleeding changes depending on the absorbency of the recording medium to be recorded, and the amount of deviation may not be obtained accurately.

[0059] Specifically, when a recording medium with low absorbency, such as non-absorbent or poorly absorbent, is used, bleeding occurs even when the discharged area Si1 of the color ink and the discharged area Sr1 of the reaction liquid coincide and overlap. As a result, the difference in optical density between the patterns due to the degree of overlap of the discharged area Sr1 with respect to the discharged area Si1 becomes small, and the amount of deviation may not be obtained. Also, when a recording medium with high liquid absorbency is used, bleeding is less likely to occur in the color inks 1 and 2, and no difference in optical density occurs between the patterns, and the amount of deviation may not be obtained.

[0060] Therefore, in the present embodiment, a plurality of test patterns 72 with different recording conditions are used in the acquisition process. Specifically, a plurality of test patterns with different recording conditions, at least one of the amounts of color inks 1 and 2, the amount of reaction liquid, and the length in the Y direction of the area where color inks 1 and 2 are ejected, are used. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the difference in recording conditions. FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing the change in the amount of color inks 1 and 2 ejected between test patterns. FIG. 10(b) is a diagram showing the change in the amount of reaction liquid ejected between test patterns. FIG. 10(c) is a diagram showing the difference in the first pattern between test patterns.

[0061] More specifically, when the amount of color ink applied is changed as a recording condition, the amount of color ink 1 and 2 discharged when forming the first pattern 62 is changed in five steps, for example, as shown in FIG. 10(a). That is, for the five test patterns, the amount of color ink 1 and 2 discharged is increased stepwise by a predetermined amount from test pattern (1) to test pattern (5). When the amount of reaction liquid applied is changed, the amount of reaction liquid discharged when forming the second pattern 64 is changed in five steps, for example, as shown in FIG. 10(b). That is, for the five test patterns, the amount of reaction liquid discharged is decreased stepwise by a predetermined amount from test pattern (1) to test pattern (5). When the length in the Y direction of the area where color ink is discharged in the first pattern 62 is changed, the length is changed in five steps, as shown in FIG. 10(c). That is, for the five test patterns, the lengths in the Y direction of the regions S-1 and S-2 in the first pattern 62 onto which color inks 1 and 2 are ejected are decreased in the order from test pattern (1) to test pattern (5).

[0062] In addition, in the multiple test patterns 72 used in the acquisition process, any one of the amount of color ink ejected, the amount of reaction liquid ejected, and the length in the Y direction of the area where color inks 1 and 2 are ejected may be changed, or a combination of the above may be changed. The amount of color ink ejected is varied within a range of, for example, 10 ng / 600 dpi or more and 50 ng / 600 dpi or less. The amount of reaction liquid ejected is varied within a range of, for example, 0 ng / 600 dpi or more and 50 ng / 600 dpi or less.

[0063] For example, if the diameter of the detection spot 310, which is the detection range of the optical sensor 200, is 0.1 mm or more and 5 mm or less, the lengths of the regions S-1 and S-2 into which the color inks 1 and 2 are discharged in the Y direction are made to differ within a range of 0.01 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less. In this case, the length of the contact portion of the color inks 1 and 2 contained in the detection spot 310 during optical characteristic detection is made to differ within a range of 0.02 mm or more and 600 mm or less, and the number of the contact portions is made to differ within a range of 1 or more and 30,000 or less. The contact portion of the color inks 1 and 2 is the boundary portion between the region S-1 into which the color ink 1 is discharged and the region S-2 into which the color ink 2 is discharged, and this boundary portion extends in the X direction in FIG. 6(a). The length of the contact portion of the color inks 1 and 2 contained in the detection spot 310 is the sum of the lengths of the contact portions located within the detection spot 310. Furthermore, the number of contact points of color inks 1 and 2 contained in detection spot 310 is the total number of contact points located within detection spot 310.

[0064] By varying the amount of color ink and reaction liquid applied, the color inks bleed differently, and multiple test patterns 72 with different bleeds can be obtained. Also, by varying the length in the Y direction of the region where color inks 1 and 2 are ejected (hereinafter simply referred to as the "length in the Y direction"), the length of the contact portion of color inks 1 and 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "length of the contact portion") changes, and multiple test patterns 72 with different bleeds can be obtained. Also, the length in the Y direction and the length of the contact portion affect the optical density of each pattern, and as the length of the contact portion increases, the effect of bleed becomes greater, but the length in the Y direction decreases. Therefore, when the length of the contact portion is long, if a recording medium with large bleed is used, even if the ejection region Sr1 overlaps with the ejection region Si1, the bleed occurring at the contact portion reaches the bleed occurring at the adjacent contact portion, and the entire regions S-1 and S-2 bleed. As a result, the difference in bleeding between the patterns in the test pattern 72 is not sufficiently apparent, and no difference in optical density occurs between the patterns.

[0065] = Acquisition process = When the start of the acquisition process is instructed via the host device 114 or the operation panel 124, the recording device 10 starts the acquisition process for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the acquisition process. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the optical characteristics of each test pattern when five test patterns with different recording conditions are recorded. FIG. 12(a) shows the case where a gloss polyvinyl chloride film is used as the recording medium, and FIG. 12(b) shows the case where coated paper is used as the recording medium.

[0066] The series of processes shown in the flowchart of Fig. 11 are performed by CPU 102 by loading program code stored in ROM 104 into RAM 106 and executing the program code. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in Fig. 11 may be performed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process indicates a step in the flowchart.

[0067] When the acquisition process is started, first, the CPU 102 records a plurality of test patterns 72 with different recording conditions (S1102). A plurality of test patterns 72 with different recording conditions are stored in the memory 108, and in S1102, recording is performed using these test patterns 72. For example, in S1102, five types of test patterns 72 with different recording conditions are recorded. After the plurality of test patterns 72 are recorded, the CPU 102 then detects the optical characteristics of the recorded test patterns 72 using the optical sensor 200 (S1104). In S1104, the optical density of each pattern in each test pattern 72 is detected based on the amount of light received by the optical sensor 200. Thus, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 including the CPU 102 functions as a control unit that controls the recording head 24 to record the test patterns and controls the optical sensor 200 to detect the optical characteristics of the recorded test patterns.

[0068] After that, the CPU 102 selects a test pattern 72 for acquiring the relative displacement amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid with respect to the ejection position of the color ink based on the optical characteristics of the detected test pattern 72 (S1106). In this embodiment, for each test pattern 72, the optical density of each pattern including the bleeding of the color inks 1 and 2, which differs depending on the overlap of the ejection area Sr1 of the reaction liquid with the ejection area Si1 of the color ink, is measured. However, the bleeding of the color inks 1 and 2 varies depending on the characteristics of the recording medium, that is, the absorbency. Therefore, in S1106, a test pattern 72 is selected that exhibits optical characteristics that cause a certain or more difference in optical density in each pattern and allows the lowest optical density value to be acquired. In other words, a test pattern 72 is selected that exhibits optical characteristics in which the difference in optical density between adjacent patterns is greater than a predetermined value and allows the pattern with the lowest level of optical density to be identified as a significant difference.

[0069] Specifically, in S1102, for example, as shown in Fig. 10(c), test patterns (1) to (5) having different lengths in the Y direction of the areas onto which color inks 1 and 2 of the first pattern 62 are ejected are recorded on a recording medium. When a gloss polyvinyl chloride film (Inkjet Media IJ1220N, manufactured by 3M) is used as the recording medium, the optical characteristics of each test pattern are as shown in Fig. 12(a). When coated paper (OK Topcoat+, manufactured by Oji Paper Co., Ltd.) is used as the recording medium, the optical characteristics of each test pattern are as shown in Fig. 12(b).

[0070] In the case of a glossy polyvinyl chloride film with low absorbency, most of the ejected ink remains on the recording medium without being absorbed by the recording medium. Therefore, the bleeding of the color inks 1 and 2 of the first pattern 62 becomes large. Therefore, even if the ejection area Sr1 of the reaction liquid overlaps the entire area of ​​the ejection area Si1 of the color ink of the first pattern 62, the bleeding becomes large. Therefore, if the length in the Y direction of the areas S-1 and S-2 onto which the color inks 1 and 2 are ejected is small, the bleeding according to the overlap of the reaction liquid does not cause a difference in optical density between the patterns. In other words, when a recording medium with low absorbency such as a glossy polyvinyl chloride film is used, the longer the length in the Y direction of the areas S-1 and S-2 onto which the color inks 1 and 2 are ejected, the more optical characteristics of the test pattern that can properly obtain the minimum value can be obtained. FIG. 12(a) shows optical characteristics in which a sufficient difference in optical density occurs in each pattern in the test pattern (1) in which the length in the Y direction of the areas S-1 and S-2 onto which the color inks 1 and 2 are ejected is the longest. Therefore, when gloss polyvinyl chloride film is used, test pattern (1) is selected in S1106.

[0071] In addition, in the case of coated paper, which has a relatively high absorbency, the ejected ink is absorbed more easily and bleeding is reduced compared to gloss polyvinyl chloride film. Therefore, the difference in bleeding according to the degree of overlap of the ejection area Sr1 of the reactive liquid with the ejection area Si1 of the color ink in the first pattern 62 is small, so the length of the contact area of ​​the color inks 1 and 2 is required to properly measure the influence of the difference. In FIG. 12(b), the length in the Y direction of the area ejected with the color inks 1 and 2 is set to the shortest, and the test pattern (5) has the longest contact area of ​​the color inks 1 and 2, and thus the optical characteristics show a sufficient difference in optical density in each pattern. For this reason, when coated paper is used, the test pattern (5) is selected in S1106.

[0072] Returning to FIG. 11, when the test pattern 72 is selected in S1106, the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink is acquired based on the optical characteristics of the selected test pattern 72 (S1108), and this acquisition process ends. In S1108, the amount of deviation can be acquired, for example, by an approximation curve. In this manner, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 including the CPU 102 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink based on the optical characteristics of the test pattern 72.

[0073] In this way, when the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink is acquired, the control unit 100 calculates a correction value for matching the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink. For example, a correction value for correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid is calculated based on the acquired amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid. Then, during a recording process for recording on a recording medium, the control unit 100 uses the calculated correction value to correct the ejection timing of the reaction liquid from the recording head 24 and records. In this way, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 functions as a correction value acquisition unit that acquires a correction value for correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid based on the acquired amount of deviation.

[0074] As described above, in the recording device 10, in order to obtain the relative displacement amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid with respect to the ejection position of the color ink, a plurality of test patterns with different recording conditions are recorded. Then, the optical characteristics of the plurality of test patterns are detected, and a test pattern showing optical characteristics that cause a difference in optical density of a certain level or more in each pattern and allows the minimum value of optical density to be obtained is selected, and the above-mentioned displacement amount is obtained based on the optical characteristics of this test pattern. This makes it possible to select a test pattern showing appropriate optical characteristics according to the absorbency of the recording medium. Therefore, it becomes possible to accurately obtain the relative displacement amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid with respect to the ejection position of the ink for various recording media with different absorbencies.

[0075] Second embodiment Next, a recording device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used for the same or corresponding configurations as those in the recording device according to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0076] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the printing and detection of optical characteristics are performed sequentially for test patterns with different printing conditions one by one. This makes it unnecessary to print all test patterns with different printing conditions depending on the type of printing medium or the order of the test patterns, and makes it possible to efficiently obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink.

[0077] In the recording device 10 according to this embodiment, a plurality of test patterns 72 with different recording conditions are stored in the memory 108. For example, serial numbers are assigned to these test patterns 72. Note that the information assigned to the test patterns 72 is not limited to serial numbers, and may be any identification information that can identify the test patterns 72, or the like, as long as it is possible to sequentially acquire the test patterns 72.

[0078] 13 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the acquisition process executed by the recording device according to this embodiment. When the acquisition process is started, first, CPU 102 sets a variable N, which indicates a number assigned to a test pattern, to "1" (S1302), and records the Nth test pattern among the test patterns stored in memory 108 (S1304). Next, CPU 102 detects the optical characteristics of the recorded Nth test pattern (S1306). The specific processing content of S1306 is the same as that of S1104 above.

[0079] Thereafter, the CPU 102 judges whether the detected optical characteristics satisfy a predetermined condition (S1308). The predetermined condition is that the difference in optical density between adjacent patterns is greater than a predetermined value, and the pattern with the lowest level of optical density can be identified as a significant difference. If it is judged in S1308 that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the CPU 102 increments the variable N (S1310) and returns to S1304. If it is judged in S1308 that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the CPU 102 acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink based on the optical characteristics for which it is judged that the predetermined condition is satisfied (S1312), and ends the acquisition process. The specific processing content of S1312 is the same as that of S1108 above. Note that, if identification information other than a serial number is assigned to the test pattern 72, the specific identification information assigned to the test pattern 72 is set in S1302, and the test pattern 72 to which the identification information is assigned is recorded in S1304. Furthermore, in S1310, identification information that has not yet been set is set.

[0080] As described above, in the recording device 10 according to the present embodiment, one test pattern is recorded to detect the optical characteristics. Then, when the detected optical characteristics do not satisfy the predetermined conditions, another test pattern is recorded, and when the detected optical characteristics satisfy the predetermined conditions, the deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is obtained based on the optical characteristics.

[0081] This makes it possible to efficiently obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment. Specifically, when a glossy polyvinyl chloride film is used as the recording medium, the optical characteristics of the first test pattern (1) satisfy the predetermined conditions, so that the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid can be obtained without recording other test patterns.

[0082] Third embodiment Next, a recording device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used for the same or corresponding configurations as those in the recording device according to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0083] The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a test pattern according to the type of recording medium corresponding to the recording mode is used during the acquisition process. This limits the types of test patterns to be printed, making it possible to more efficiently acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink.

[0084] In the recording device 10 according to the present embodiment, the memory 108 stores a recording mode executable by the recording device 10 and a plurality of test patterns 72 with different recording conditions. In the recording mode, various conditions for performing appropriate recording according to the type of recording medium are set. Then, a test pattern 72 is associated with each type of recording medium in this recording mode. The test pattern 72 associated with the recording medium is a test pattern that can acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the optical characteristics when recorded on the recording medium. Such a relationship between the recording medium and the test pattern 72 is experimentally obtained. Specifically, a plurality of test patterns 72 with different recording conditions are recorded on the recording medium, and the optical characteristics are detected. Then, from the detected optical characteristics, a test pattern 72 suitable for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid, that is, a test pattern 72 that satisfies a predetermined condition is selected, and the selected test pattern 72 is associated with the recording medium. The predetermined condition is that the difference in optical density between adjacent patterns is greater than a predetermined value, and the pattern with the lowest level of optical density can be identified as a significant difference.

[0085] For example, in selecting a test pattern associated with a gloss polyvinyl chloride film, first, as shown in FIG. 10(c), five test patterns (1) to (5) having different lengths in the Y direction of the areas where color inks 1 and 2 are ejected in the first pattern 62 are recorded. Then, their optical characteristics are detected. The detected optical characteristics are as shown in FIG. 12(a). Therefore, test pattern (1) that satisfies the above-mentioned predetermined condition is selected, and test pattern (1) is stored in association with the gloss polyvinyl chloride film. Similarly, for a test pattern associated with coated paper, the detected optical characteristics are as shown in FIG. 12(b), so test pattern (5) is selected, and this test pattern (5) is stored in association with the coated paper.

[0086] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the acquisition process executed by the printing apparatus according to this embodiment. When the acquisition process is started, first, the CPU 102 acquires the test pattern 72 to be printed (S1402). In S1402, the printing mode executed during the printing process is acquired, and a test pattern associated with the printing medium to be printed in the printing mode is acquired. Next, the CPU 102 prints the acquired test pattern (S1404), and detects the optical characteristics of the printed test pattern (S1406). The specific processing content of S1406 is the same as that of S1104 above. After that, the CPU 102 acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink based on the detected optical characteristics (S1408), and ends this acquisition process. The specific processing content of S1408 is the same as that of S1108 above.

[0087] As described above, in the recording device 10 according to this embodiment, a test pattern suitable for obtaining the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is associated with a recording medium corresponding to the recording mode. Then, during the acquisition process, a test pattern associated with the recording medium corresponding to the recording mode is recorded, and the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is obtained based on the optical characteristics of this test pattern. This makes it possible to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid more efficiently in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

[0088] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a recording device according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 15. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used for the same or corresponding configurations as those in the recording device according to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0089] The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a characteristic reflecting pattern that reflects the absorbency of the recording medium is used to select a test pattern suitable for the recording medium, and the test pattern is used to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid. This limits the types of test patterns to be printed, making it possible to efficiently obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the color ink.

[0090] In the recording device 10 according to this embodiment, a characteristic reflection pattern that reflects the absorbency of the recording medium is stored in the memory 108 together with a plurality of test patterns with different recording conditions. As the characteristic reflection pattern, a pattern using two different color inks is used, for example, a plurality of first patterns 62 with different recording conditions are used. The recording conditions are at least one of the "amount of color ink applied" and the "length in the Y direction of the area where color inks 1 and 2 are ejected." Specifically, the characteristic reflection pattern is a pattern in which the recording conditions of the first pattern 62 are changed as shown in Figs. 10(a) and (c), and in this embodiment, no reaction liquid is used.

[0091] 15 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the acquisition process executed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. When the acquisition process is started, first, the CPU 102 records a characteristic reflecting pattern (S1502). In S1502, for example, five patterns with different lengths in the Y direction of the regions S-1 and S-2 for ejecting the color inks 1 and 2 are recorded. Next, the optical characteristics of the recorded characteristic reflecting pattern are detected (S1504), and a test pattern suitable for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid on the recording medium is selected based on the detected optical characteristics (S1506).

[0092] In S1506, for example, as shown in FIG. 8B, when the bleeding of the color inks 1 and 2 is large, a test pattern in which the length in the Y direction of the regions S-1 and S-2 onto which the color inks 1 and 2 are discharged is long is selected. Also, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the bleeding of the color inks 1 and 2 is small, a test pattern in which the length in the Y direction is short is selected. Note that in S1502, when five patterns with different amounts of color ink are recorded, a test pattern in which the amount of color ink discharged is small is selected in S1506 when the bleeding of the color inks is large. Also, when the bleeding of the color inks is small, a test pattern in which the amount of color ink discharged is large is selected. The memory 108 stores information that associates the optical characteristics of the characteristic reflection pattern with the test pattern 72 that can appropriately obtain the amount of deviation of the discharge position of the reaction liquid when the optical characteristics are present. In S1506, the CPU 102 selects the test pattern 72 based on this information. Such information is, for example, experimentally obtained and created.

[0093] Thereafter, CPU 102 records the selected test pattern (S1508) and detects the optical characteristics of the recorded test pattern (S1510). The specific processing content of S1510 is the same as that of S1104 described above. Thereafter, CPU 102 obtains the amount of deviation of the relative ejection position of the reaction liquid corresponding to the ejection position of the color ink based on the detected optical characteristics (S1512), and ends this acquisition processing. The specific processing content of S1512 is the same as that of S1108 described above.

[0094] As described above, in the recording device 10 according to the present embodiment, a characteristic reflecting pattern is recorded, and a test pattern 72 suitable for obtaining the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is obtained on the recording medium based on the optical characteristics of the characteristic reflecting pattern. Then, during the obtaining process, the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is obtained based on the optical characteristics of the test pattern 72. This makes it possible to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid more efficiently in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment.

[0095] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (5).

[0096] (1) Although not specifically described in the above embodiment, the reaction liquid used does not contain a coloring material, but a reaction liquid containing a coloring material may be used as long as it does not affect the image quality. Also, although not specifically described in the above embodiment, the recording head 24 may use various known ink ejection methods, such as a so-called thermal method in which ink is ejected using an electrothermal conversion element, or a so-called piezo method in which ink is ejected using a piezo element.

[0097] (2) In the above embodiment, the control unit 100 of the recording device executes the acquisition process and calculates the correction value based on the acquired deviation amount, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a device provided separately from the recording device 10, such as the host device 114, may control the recording device 10 to execute the acquisition process, and calculate a correction value for correcting the timing of ejection of the reaction liquid based on the deviation amount acquired in the acquisition process. Alternatively, either the acquisition of the deviation amount or the calculation of the correction value may be performed in a device provided separately from the recording device 10. Also, in the above embodiment, a correction value for correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid is acquired based on the deviation amount acquired in the acquisition process, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a correction value for correcting the ejection timing of the ink may be acquired. Alternatively, correction values ​​for correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid and the ink may be acquired separately.

[0098] (3) Although not specifically described in the third embodiment, one or more test patterns are associated with the recording medium. When multiple test patterns are associated with the recording medium, as in the second embodiment, for example, a serial number is assigned to each test pattern. Then, recording, detection of optical characteristics, and determination of optical characteristics are performed for each test pattern in order to select a test pattern suitable for obtaining the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid. In addition, in the third embodiment, a test pattern suitable for a recording medium corresponding to a recording mode is associated with the recording medium, but this is not limited to this. That is, a test pattern suitable for obtaining the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid may be associated with a recording medium usable in the recording device 10 regardless of whether the recording mode is supported.

[0099] (4) In the fourth embodiment, only the pattern using color ink is used as the characteristic reflecting pattern, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a pattern in which the pattern using the color ink in FIG. 6(a) is superimposed with the pattern using the reaction liquid in FIG. 6(b) may be used. Alternatively, both a pattern using color ink and a pattern in which a pattern using the reaction liquid is superimposed on a pattern using color ink may be used. When using a pattern in which a pattern using the reaction liquid is superimposed on a pattern using color ink, the amount of reaction liquid applied may be changed as a printing condition.

[0100] (5) The above embodiment and the various forms shown in (1) to (4) may be combined as appropriate. The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above embodiment to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10 Recording Device 24 Recording head 100 Control section

Claims

1. a recording means for ejecting a plurality of inks different from each other and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks onto a recording medium to record; A detection means capable of detecting the optical density of a recorded matter; a control means for controlling the recording means to record a test pattern formed by two inks of the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid, the test pattern being composed of a plurality of patterns in which the ejection positions of the reaction liquid are shifted by a predetermined amount with respect to the ejection positions of the two inks, and for controlling the detection means to detect optical characteristics of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium; an acquisition unit that acquires an amount of deviation of a relative ejection position of the reaction liquid with respect to an ejection position of the plurality of inks based on an optical characteristic of the test pattern detected by the detection unit, and the recording device corrects and records the ejection positions of at least one of the plurality of inks or the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation, the control means records a plurality of the test patterns under different recording conditions, and then detects optical characteristics of each of the recorded test patterns; The recording device is characterized in that the acquisition means acquires the amount of shift based on optical characteristics among the optical characteristics of the detected multiple test patterns, where the difference in optical density between adjacent patterns is greater than a predetermined value and the pattern with the lowest level of optical density can be identified as a significant difference.

2. the recording means records on the recording medium while moving in a first direction; Each of the patterns constituting the test pattern is composed of a first pattern made of the two inks and a second pattern made of the reaction liquid, In the first pattern, ejection regions to which the two inks are ejected and non-ejection regions to which the two inks are not ejected are alternately arranged along the first direction, and in the ejection regions, third regions to which one ink is ejected and fourth regions to which the other ink is ejected are alternately arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction, the second pattern is such that discharge regions to which the reaction liquid is discharged and non-discharge regions to which the reaction liquid is not discharged are alternately arranged along the first direction, In the test pattern, each pattern constituting the test pattern is Between adjacent patterns, the second pattern is shifted by the predetermined amount in the first direction with respect to the first pattern, The second pattern is shifted relative to the first pattern by different amounts.

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,

3. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined amount corresponds to one pixel.

4. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording condition is at least one of the ejection amount of the two inks, the ejection amount of the reaction liquid, and the length in the second direction between the third area and the fourth area.

5. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detection range of said detection means is a diameter of 0.1 mm to 5 mm.

6. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the number of contact portions between the third area and the fourth area included in the detection range is 1 or more and 30,000 or less.

7. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a length of a contact portion between the third area and the fourth area included in the detection range is not less than 0.02 mm and not more than 600 mm.

8. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the length in the second direction of the third area and the fourth area included in the detection range is 0.01 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less.

9. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ejection rates of the two inks are equal to or greater than 10 ng / 600 dpi and equal to or less than 50 ng / 600 dpi.

10. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ejection amount of the reaction liquid is equal to or greater than 0 ng / 600 dpi and equal to or less than 50 ng / 600 dpi.

11. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction value acquisition unit that acquires a correction value for correcting the timing of ejection of the plurality of inks or the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation.

12. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is non-absorbent or poorly absorbent.

13. 13. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two inks are combined in such a way that the optical density detected by the detection means differs between when significant bleeding between the two inks occurs and when no bleeding occurs.

14. a recording means for ejecting a plurality of inks different from each other and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks onto a recording medium to record; A control device for controlling a recording device having a detection means capable of detecting optical characteristics of a recorded matter, a plurality of test patterns each including two inks among the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid, the plurality of test patterns being configured by shifting the ejection positions of the reaction liquid with respect to the ejection positions of the two inks by a predetermined amount, and having different printing conditions recorded on the recording means; causing said detecting means to detect optical characteristics of each of said recorded test patterns; A control device characterized by obtaining the amount of deviation of the relative ejection position of the reaction liquid with respect to the ejection positions of the multiple inks based on optical characteristics among the detected optical characteristics of the multiple test patterns, where the difference in optical density between adjacent patterns is greater than a predetermined value and the pattern with the lowest level of optical density can be identified as a significant difference.

15. A program for causing a computer to function as the control device according to claim 14.

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