Recording device and recording method

Abstract

To improve a pattern for correcting deviation of dots according to inclination of a recording head.SOLUTION: In forward scanning, a first pattern can be formed by ink discharge from a first nozzle group, and a second pattern can be formed by ink discharge from a second nozzle group. In return scanning, a third pattern can be formed by ink discharge from the first nozzle group, and a fourth pattern can be formed by ink discharge from the second nozzle group. In one adjustment operation, first control and second control are performed or the first control and third control are performed. In the first control, a first patch is formed in a medium without conveyance operation, the first patch having the first pattern and the third pattern arranged therein. In the second control, a second patch having the first pattern and the second pattern arranged therein and a third patch having the third pattern and the fourth pattern arranged therein are formed in the medium. In the third control, a fourth patch having the first pattern and the fourth pattern arranged therein and a fifth patch having the second pattern and the third pattern arranged therein are formed in the medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method. [Background technology]

[0002] When a recording head having a nozzle array in which multiple nozzles that eject ink are aligned is tilted in a direction that intersects with the recording surface of a medium such as paper, in other words, when it has a tilt known as a "bow," a positional deviation occurs according to the tilt between the dot array ejected onto the medium by the nozzle array as the recording head moves forward and the dot array ejected onto the medium by the nozzle array as the recording head moves backward (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] According to the above-mentioned document 1, an approximate straight line is generated by reading a pattern image recorded using all the nozzles in the nozzle row during the forward movement of the recording head, and a pattern image recorded using all the nozzles in the nozzle row during the return movement of the recording head, and the slope is derived from the approximate straight line to adjust the landing position of the dots ejected from each nozzle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-199280 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] There is room for further improvement in the patterns printed to correct misalignment of dot landing positions caused by tilt of the print head. Also, there are other factors that can cause misalignment of dot landing positions besides the tilt, and there is a need to print patterns that are useful for correcting misalignment caused by each of these factors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] a control unit for controlling ink ejection by the print head, the control unit ... and forming a fourth pattern on the medium by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group, wherein the control unit is capable of executing a first control of forming, on the medium without the transport operation, a first patch arranged at a position where the first pattern and the third pattern overlap as viewed from the second direction; a second control of forming, on the medium, a second patch arranged at a position where the first pattern and the second pattern overlap as viewed from the second direction, and a third patch arranged at a position where the third pattern and the fourth pattern overlap as viewed from the second direction; and a third control of forming, on the medium, a fourth patch arranged at a position where the first pattern and the fourth pattern overlap as viewed from the second direction, and a fifth patch arranged at a position where the second pattern and the third pattern overlap as viewed from the second direction, and executes the first control and the second control, or the first control and the third control, in one adjustment operation.

[0007] a transport operation for relatively moving a print head, the print head having a nozzle array in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a medium are aligned in the nozzle array direction, and the print head in a first direction; a forward scan for ejecting ink as the print head moves forward along a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a backward scan for ejecting ink as the print head moves backward along the second direction, the nozzle array having a first nozzle group, a second nozzle group, and a third nozzle group between the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group along the nozzle array direction, the first pattern being a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the first nozzle group during the forward scan, the second pattern being a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the second nozzle group during the forward scan, the third pattern being a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the first nozzle group during the backward scan, and the fourth pattern being a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the first nozzle group during the backward scan. and a pattern formed on the medium by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group is a fourth pattern, and a first control is a control of forming on the medium without the transport operation a first patch, in which the first pattern and the third pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, a second control is a control of forming on the medium a second patch, in which the first pattern and the second pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a third patch, in which the third pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a third control is a control of forming on the medium a fourth patch, in which the first pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a fifth patch, in which the second pattern and the third pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a third control is a control of forming on the medium a fourth patch, in which the first pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a fifth patch, in which the second pattern and the third pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram showing the relationship between the medium and the recording head from an overhead perspective. [Figure 3] FIG. 3A is a simplified diagram from a side perspective showing the relationship between the medium and the recording head when it is not bowed, and FIG. 3B is a simplified diagram from a side perspective showing the relationship between the medium and the recording head when it is bowed. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing a test pattern and correction based on the printing results. [Figure 5] FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of patch image data, and FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining how a first patch is recorded under first control. [Figure 6] FIG. 6A is a diagram for explaining an example of a raster alternating recording mode, FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining an example of a column alternating recording mode, and FIG. 6C is a diagram for explaining another example of the column alternating recording mode. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining specific examples of steps S140, S150, and steps S200, S210. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of steps S170 and S180. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a specific example of steps S230 and S240. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining examples of effects of correction. [Figure 11] FIG. 11A is a diagram for explaining an example of the sash recording mode, and FIG. 11B is a diagram for explaining another example of the sash recording mode. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart of a second modified example when the raster alternating recording mode is set. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are merely examples for explaining the present embodiment. Because the drawings are examples, the proportions and shapes may not be accurate, the drawings may not match each other, and some parts may be omitted.

[0010] 1. Brief description of the device: FIG. 1 shows a simplified configuration of a recording device 10 according to this embodiment. The recording device 10 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 13, an operation reception unit 14, a communication IF 15, a memory unit 16, a transport unit 17, a carriage 18, a recording head 19, and a PG adjustment unit 20. IF stands for interface. PG stands for paper gap, which refers to the distance between the medium and the recording head 19. The PG adjustment unit 20 may be omitted except in the "fourth modified example" described below. A recording method is realized by the recording device 10.

[0011] The control unit 11 is configured to include one or more ICs having a CPU 11a as a processor, a ROM 11b, a RAM 11c, etc., or other non-volatile memory. In the control unit 11, the processor, i.e., the CPU 11a, executes arithmetic processing in accordance with a program 12 stored in the ROM 11b or other memory, using the RAM 11c, etc., as a work area. By executing the program 12, the control unit 11 realizes multiple functions, such as a test pattern recording unit 12a and a misalignment correction unit 12b. Note that the processor is not limited to a single CPU, and may be configured to perform processing using multiple CPUs or hardware circuits such as ASICs, or may be configured to perform processing in cooperation with a CPU and a hardware circuit.

[0012] The display unit 13 is a means for displaying visual information and is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 13 may be configured to include a display and a drive circuit for driving the display. The operation reception unit 14 is a means for receiving operations by a user and is realized, for example, by physical buttons, a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. Of course, the touch panel may be realized as one function of the display unit 13. The display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 may be collectively referred to as the operation panel of the recording device 10.

[0013] The display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 may be part of the configuration of the recording device 10, or may be peripheral devices externally attached to the recording device 10. The communication IF 15 is a general term for one or more IFs that allow the recording device 10 to communicate with the outside world via wired or wireless communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, including a known communication standard. The control unit 11 can communicate with, for example, a personal computer, a server, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal (not shown) via the communication IF 15. The storage unit 16 is, for example, a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, or other memory storage means. Part of the memory of the control unit 11 may be regarded as the storage unit 16. The storage unit 16 may also be regarded as part of the control unit 11.

[0014] The transport unit 17 is a means for transporting a medium such as paper in a predetermined "transport direction" under the control of the control unit 11, and includes, for example, rollers that rotate to transport the medium, a motor for driving the rollers, etc. The transport direction corresponds to the "first direction." The medium is typically paper, but may be made of a material other than paper as long as it is a medium that can be recorded by ejecting liquid.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2 (described later), the recording head 19 has a plurality of nozzles 21, and ejects a liquid such as ink from each nozzle 21 onto a medium 30 under the control of the control unit 11. The droplets ejected from the nozzles 21 are also called dots. As is well known, the recording device 10 controls the application of drive signals to drive elements (not shown) provided in the nozzles 21 in accordance with recording data representing an image, thereby causing the nozzles 21 to eject or not eject dots, thereby recording an image onto the medium 30. The recording head 19 can eject inks of colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), as well as inks of colors other than these colors and liquids other than ink. The recording head 19 may also be called a liquid ejection head, a print head, a printing head, an inkjet head, or the like.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 18 is equipped with a recording head 19 and is a mechanism that receives power from a motor (not shown) and can move back and forth along a "main scanning direction" that intersects with the transport direction. The main scanning direction corresponds to the "second direction." Therefore, the recording head 19 moves forward and backward along the main scanning direction together with the carriage 18. The intersection between the transport direction and the main scanning direction can be considered to be perpendicular. However, the perpendicular does not have to be strictly perpendicular, and may be an intersection that includes errors that may occur in the product.

[0017] Figure 2 shows a simplified view of the relationship between the recording head 19 and the medium 30 from a top view. Each figure also shows the transport direction D1 and the main scanning direction D2 where appropriate. The upstream and downstream of the transport direction D1 are simply referred to as upstream and downstream. The direction indicated by the arrow in the main scanning direction D2 is the direction of forward movement of the carriage 18, and the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow in the main scanning direction D2 is the direction of return movement of the carriage 18.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of nozzles 21 on a nozzle surface 22 of the recording head 19. The nozzle surface 22 is the surface on which the nozzles 21 open and faces the medium 30 and a platen (described later). In FIG. 2, small circles represent individual nozzles 21. In a configuration in which ink of each color is supplied from a liquid holding means (not shown) called an ink cartridge or ink tank, etc. and ejected from the nozzles 21, the recording head 19 has a nozzle row 23 for each ink color, in this case, for each CMYK ink. Each nozzle row 23 is made up of a plurality of nozzles 21 lined up at a constant or nearly constant nozzle interval (nozzle pitch) in the transport direction D1. The direction in which the plurality of nozzles 21 that make up a nozzle row 23 are lined up is called the "nozzle row direction D3."

[0019] Although there are known examples of configurations of the recording head 19 in which the nozzle row direction D3 diagonally intersects the transport direction D1, for simplicity's sake, it is assumed here that the ideal arrangement is for the nozzle row direction D3 and the transport direction D1 to be parallel. The nozzle row 23 consisting of nozzles 21 that eject C ink will also be referred to as nozzle row 23C. Similarly, the nozzle row 23 consisting of nozzles 21 that eject M ink will be referred to as nozzle row 23M, the nozzle row 23 consisting of nozzles 21 that eject Y ink will be referred to as nozzle row 23Y, and the nozzle row 23 consisting of nozzles 21 that eject K ink will be referred to as nozzle row 23K. The nozzle rows 23C, 23M, 23Y, and 23K are aligned in the same position in the nozzle row direction D3 and are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle row direction D3.

[0020] The control unit 11 performs recording on the medium 30 by combining the "transport operation" of the transport unit 17 transporting the medium 30 from upstream to downstream, i.e., the relative movement of the recording head 19 and the medium 30 in the first direction, the "forward scan" of ejecting ink as the recording head 19 moves forward, and the "return scan" of ejecting ink as the recording head 19 moves backward. The medium 30 remains stationary during the forward scan and the return scan. Recording by the forward scan and the return scan is also called bidirectional recording. The forward scan and the return scan are also called the forward pass and the return pass, respectively, or simply the pass.

[0021] In this embodiment, the nozzle row 23 is divided into a first nozzle group 24a, a second nozzle group 24b, and a third nozzle group 24c along the nozzle row direction D3. In the example of FIG. 2, of the multiple nozzles 21 constituting the nozzle row 23, a predetermined number of nozzles 21 on the downstream side are referred to as the first nozzle group 24a, a predetermined number of nozzles 21 on the upstream side are referred to as the second nozzle group 24b, and multiple nozzles 21 located between the first nozzle group 24a and the second nozzle group 24b are referred to as the third nozzle group 24c. However, since the terms first nozzle group, second nozzle group, etc. are merely names, the predetermined number of nozzles 21 on the downstream side may also be referred to as the second nozzle group 24b, and the predetermined number of nozzles 21 on the upstream side may also be referred to as the first nozzle group 24a. The following description will continue with reference to the example of FIG. 2.

[0022] The division into the first nozzle group 24a, the second nozzle group 24b, and the third nozzle group 24c is common to the nozzle rows 23C, 23M, 23Y, and 23K. Each of the first nozzle group 24a, the second nozzle group 24b, and the third nozzle group 24c may be understood as being composed of nozzles 21 that are continuous in the nozzle row direction D3. However, for example, one or more downstream nozzles 21, including the most downstream nozzle 21, in the nozzle row 23 may be understood as not belonging to the first nozzle group 24a, or one or more upstream nozzles 21, including the most upstream nozzle 21, in the nozzle row 23 may be understood as not belonging to the second nozzle group 24b. Furthermore, for example, some nozzles 21 located between the first nozzle group 24a and the second nozzle group 24b may be understood as not belonging to the third nozzle group 24c.

[0023] 3A and 3B show a simplified view of the relationship between the recording head 19 and the medium 30 from a perspective facing the main scanning direction D2. Reference numeral 25 indicates a platen 25 as part of the transport path of the medium 30. The platen 25 supports the transported medium 30 from below.

[0024] A first roller pair consisting of roller 17a and roller 17b is disposed upstream of recording head 19. A second roller pair consisting of roller 17c and roller 17d is disposed downstream of recording head 19. These roller pairs are part of transport unit 17. The roller pairs rotate with medium 30 sandwiched between the rollers that make up the pair, thereby transporting medium 30 downstream. Of course, the rollers of transport unit 17 are not limited to those shown in the figure. Furthermore, the means by which transport unit 17 transports medium 30 may be a belt, table, or the like that can move with medium 30 on it.

[0025] A recording head 19 is supported at a position above and facing the platen 25. The carriage 18 is omitted from Figures 3A and 3B. The lower surface of the recording head 19 facing the platen 25 is a nozzle surface 22, and ink is ejected from each nozzle 21 opening in the nozzle surface 22 onto a medium 30 supported by the platen 25. Figure 3A shows PG, which is the distance between the medium 30 and the recording head 19. PG may also be referred to as the head height, meaning the height of the recording head 19 from the medium 30.

[0026] The PG adjustment unit 20 includes, for example, a motor and a support mechanism for moving the recording head 19 up and down. The PG adjustment unit 20 adjusts the PG by moving the carriage 18 including the recording head 19 away from or toward the platen 25. The recording head 19 may be equipped with a distance measurement sensor capable of measuring the PG, and the control unit 11 may have the PG adjustment unit 20 accurately adjust the PG while monitoring the measurement results from the distance measurement sensor. The distance measurement sensor may measure the distance from a predetermined position of the recording head 19 to the platen 25, and the control unit 11 may determine the PG by subtracting the value acquired as the thickness of the medium 30 from the measurement results.

[0027] The example in FIG. 3B differs from the example in FIG. 3A in that the print head 19 is mounted at an angle. According to FIG. 3B, the print head 19 is tilted so that its downstream end is positioned lower than its upstream end. In other words, the print head 19 is in a bowed position at its downstream end. When this tilt occurs, as can be seen from FIG. 3B, the print head 19 has different PGs at its downstream and upstream ends. The larger the PG, the longer the flight time of a dot ejected from a nozzle 21 until it lands on the medium 30. Therefore, when the tilt shown in FIG. 3B exists, even if a nozzle 21 near the downstream end and a nozzle 21 near the upstream end of the nozzle row 23 simultaneously eject dots during a pass, the dot ejected by the upstream nozzle 21 lands further forward in the direction of travel of the print head 19 than the dot ejected by the downstream nozzle 21. As a result, the landing positions of these two dots are offset along the main scanning direction D2.

[0028] Furthermore, although not shown, there are cases where the nozzle row direction D3 of the recording head 19 is tilted with respect to the transport direction D1, that is, where the recording head 19 is attached in a state where it is rotated with respect to the transport direction D1 within a plane parallel to the surface of the medium 30. Even in cases where such rotation occurs, if a nozzle 21 near the downstream end and a nozzle 21 near the upstream end of the nozzle row 23 simultaneously eject dots during a pass, a deviation occurs in the landing positions of these two dots along the main scanning direction D2.

[0029] Hereinafter, the tilt of the recording head 19, such as the bowing and rotation described above, may be collectively referred to simply as "tilt." Furthermore, when bidirectional printing is performed, a deviation specific to each device may occur between the dots ejected during the forward scan and the dots ejected during the backward scan. In this embodiment, a test pattern suitable for detecting misalignment of the print result due to such tilt or bidirectional printing is printed on the medium 30.

[0030] Recording device 10 may be realized not only by a single independent printer, but also by multiple devices connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. For example, recording device 10 may be realized by a system including an information processing device including control unit 11 and the like, and a printer including transport unit 17, carriage 18, recording head 19 and the like.

[0031] 2. Recording the test pattern: Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing a test pattern and correction based on the printing results. The test pattern is a general term for the patterns and patches printed in this embodiment. The flowchart in Fig. 4 shows "one adjustment operation" in this embodiment.

[0032] In step S100, the test pattern recording unit 12a of the control unit 11 controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a forward scan, and forms a "first pattern" on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a. In step S110, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a return scan, and forms a "third pattern" by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a, corresponding to the first pattern recorded on the medium 30 in step S100.

[0033] As a result of steps S100 and S110, recording of the "first patch" consisting of the first pattern and the third pattern is completed. Between steps S100 and S110, the transport unit 17 does not transport the medium 30. Therefore, steps S100 and S110 correspond to "first control" that forms the first patch on the medium 30 without a transport operation.

[0034] 5A is an example of patch image data 40. The patch image data 40 is basic recording data for recording a patch and is stored in advance in the storage unit 16 or the like. FIG. 5A also shows the correspondence between the patch image data 40 and the directions D1 and D2. The patch image data 40 includes first pattern data 41 that represents a plurality of first rectangular images 41a, each having a fixed width in the main scanning direction D2, arranged at regular intervals along the main scanning direction D2, and second pattern data 42 that represents a plurality of second rectangular images 42a, each having a fixed width in the main scanning direction D2, arranged at regular intervals along the main scanning direction D2.

[0035] 5A, in the patch image data 40, the width of the first rectangular image 41a, the width of the second rectangular image 42a, the width of the gap between the first rectangular images 41a, and the width of the gap between the second rectangular images 42a are all the same. Therefore, the patch image data 40 represents a patch in which the first rectangular images 41a and the second rectangular images 42a are alternately arranged along the main scanning direction D2. Furthermore, the positions of the first pattern data 41 and the second pattern data 42 in the transport direction D1 are the same or nearly the same. In other words, the first pattern data 41 and the second pattern data 42 are arranged in overlapping positions when viewed from the main scanning direction D2.

[0036] The patch represented by the patch image data 40 is an image for detecting misalignment between the first pattern data 41 and the second pattern data 42 in the recording results. Therefore, the first rectangular image 41a and the second rectangular image 42a preferably have different colors so that the misalignment can be easily detected. The color of the first rectangular image 41a may be called the first color, and the color of the second rectangular image 42a may be called the second color. In this embodiment, it does not particularly matter what the first color and second color are.

[0037] Alternatively, the first rectangular image 41a and the second rectangular image 42a may be images of the same hue but with different densities, such as light gray and dark gray, for example. Alternatively, the first rectangular image 41a and the second rectangular image 42a may be images of the same color. Even if the first pattern data 41 and the second pattern data 42 are images of the same color, if a misalignment occurs between them in the recording result, the color of the medium 30 itself will appear as a gap in the patch, making it possible to detect the presence or absence and degree of misalignment.

[0038] 5B is a diagram for explaining a specific example of how the first patch 401 is recorded on the medium 30 in steps S100 and S110. Part of the medium 30 is shown in FIG. 5B and in FIGS. In step S100, the test pattern recording unit 12a forms a first pattern 411 on the medium 30 during a forward scan by ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a based on the first pattern data 41 of the patch image data 40. According to the example of FIG. 5B, the test pattern recording unit 12a records a plurality of first patterns 411 at intervals in the main scanning direction D2 on the medium 30. According to the example of FIG. 5B, five first patterns 411 are recorded.

[0039] Following the forward scan in step S100, in step S110, without a transport operation in between, the test pattern recording unit 12a forms a third pattern 423 on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a based on the second pattern data 42 of the patch image data 40 during a backward scan. According to the example of FIG. 5B , the test pattern recording unit 12a forms five third patterns 423 at intervals in the main scanning direction D2, corresponding to the first pattern 411. As a result, five first patches 401 made of the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423 are recorded on the medium 30, as shown in FIG. 5B .

[0040] Similar to the relationship between the first pattern data 41 and the second pattern data 42 in the patch image data 40, the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423 in the first patch 401 are arranged in overlapping positions as viewed from the main scanning direction D2. This arrangement in which two types of patterns constituting a patch are arranged in overlapping positions as viewed from the main scanning direction D2 is also common to the second, third, fourth, and fifth patches described below.

[0041] Here, with regard to patch recording, "forming one pattern in correspondence with another pattern" means forming multiple patches by varying the relative positions of the multiple patterns constituting the patch in the main scanning direction D2. Specifically, in step S110, the detection pattern recording unit 12a records multiple first patches 401 by varying the amount of deviation in the main scanning direction D2 from the first pattern 411 for each third pattern 423. Numeric values such as "-2," "-1," "0," "+1," and "+2" written for each first patch 401 on the medium 30 in FIG. 5B exemplify such deviation amounts. The deviation amounts may or may not be actually recorded on the medium 30 together with the patterns and patches.

[0042] A deviation amount of "0" means that no shifting process is performed, that is, the first pattern data 41 and the second pattern data 42 expressed by the patch image data 40 are recorded as they are. A negative deviation amount means that the data are recorded with a shift in the direction of backward movement. A positive deviation amount means that the data are recorded with a shift in the direction of forward movement.

[0043] The amount of deviation can be measured in various units, such as millimeters. As an example, the unit of deviation is assumed to be one pixel. Here, a pixel refers to a pixel that constitutes patch image data 40, which is two-dimensional bitmap image data, or recording data. For example, when the amount of deviation is set to "-2," the test pattern recording unit 12a forms the third pattern 423 on the medium 30 using second pattern data 42 that is shifted by two pixels in the backward movement direction from the second pattern data 42 in the patch image data 40. Similarly, when the amount of deviation is set to "+1," the test pattern recording unit 12a forms the third pattern 423 on the medium 30 using second pattern data 42 that is shifted by one pixel in the forward movement direction from the second pattern data 42 in the patch image data 40. As a result of this processing, as shown in Figure 5B, multiple first patches 401 are recorded on the medium 30, which are spaced apart from each other in the main scanning direction D2 and have different relative positions in the main scanning direction D2 between the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423.

[0044] In step S120, the misregistration correction unit 12b of the control unit 11 corrects bidirectional printing misalignment based on the printing result of the first patch. Bidirectional printing misalignment is the misalignment in the main scanning direction D2 between dots formed by a forward scan and dots formed by a backward scan. The first patch is made up of a first pattern formed by the first nozzle group 24a by a forward scan and a third pattern formed by the first nozzle group 24a by a backward scan, and is therefore suitable for detecting bidirectional printing misalignment.

[0045] The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires a correction amount for the bidirectional printing misalignment. For example, when multiple first patches 401 as shown in FIG. 5B are recorded on the medium 30, the user visually identifies the first patch 401 that has the most ideal positional relationship between the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423. In the example of FIG. 5B, the first patch 401 with a misalignment amount of "0" has a misalignment between the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423. This indicates that there is a bidirectional printing misalignment in the current state of the recording device 10. On the other hand, the first patch 401 with a misalignment amount of "-1" has the most ideal positional relationship between the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423. Therefore, the user inputs the misalignment amount "-1" for this first patch 401 by operating the operation reception unit 14. The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires the input misalignment amount "-1" as a correction amount for the bidirectional printing misalignment.

[0046] Alternatively, a scanner (not shown) may read the medium 30 on which a plurality of first patches 401 are recorded, and input the read image data as the reading result to the recording device 10. The misalignment correction unit 12b that receives the read image data may analyze the read image data to identify the first patch 401 that has the most ideal positional relationship between the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423, and may acquire the amount of misalignment corresponding to the identified first patch 401 as the amount of correction for the misalignment in bidirectional printing.

[0047] The misregistration correction unit 12b corrects the misalignment in the bidirectional printing in accordance with the acquired correction amount. As in the example above, if the correction amount is "-1," the timing of dot ejection during the backward scan is shifted by one pixel overall in the movement direction, i.e., delayed by one pixel, to achieve an ideal positional relationship in the main scanning direction D2 between the printing by the forward scan and the printing by the backward scan. Therefore, the misregistration correction unit 12b sets the timing of dot ejection during the backward scan by the print head 19 to be shifted by one pixel overall in the movement direction from the timing based on the print data, and applies this setting to subsequent backward scans. Alternatively, the misregistration correction unit 12b may set the timing of dot ejection during the forward scan by the print head 19 to be shifted by one pixel overall in the movement direction from the timing based on the print data, and apply this setting to subsequent forward scans. Alternatively, the positional deviation correction unit 12b may correct both the timing of dot ejection in the forward scan and the timing of dot ejection in the backward scan according to the acquired correction amount, thereby resulting in an ideal positional relationship in the main scanning direction D2 between printing by the forward scan and printing by the backward scan.

[0048] After step S120, in step S130, the test pattern recording unit 12a branches the process according to a preset recording mode for recording in an "overlap area" targeted by ink ejection from the first nozzle group 24a and ink ejection from the second nozzle group 24b. A known recording method for performing recording by combining conveyance and passes of the medium 30 is overlap recording, in which a single raster line is recorded in multiple passes. A raster line is a line formed by pixels arranged in the main scanning direction D2 in recording data representing an arbitrary image, and can also be called a pixel row. A line formed by pixels arranged in the conveyance direction D1 is called a pixel column.

[0049] There are various combinations of nozzles 21 used in overlap printing of each raster line that makes up the print data. For example, a certain raster line is printed using nozzles 21 belonging to the first nozzle group 24a and nozzles 21 belonging to the third nozzle group 24c. Another raster line is printed using nozzles 21 belonging to the third nozzle group 24c and nozzles 21 belonging to the second nozzle group 24b. A certain raster line may also be printed using multiple nozzles 21 belonging to the third nozzle group 24c. A certain raster line may also be printed using a single nozzle 21 without overlap printing.

[0050] In any case, in this embodiment, it is assumed that when recording based on recording data, the recording device 10 records at least some of the raster lines using a plurality of nozzles 21, including nozzles 21 belonging to the first nozzle group 24a and nozzles 21 belonging to the second nozzle group 24b. The raster lines recorded by a plurality of nozzles 21, including nozzles 21 belonging to the first nozzle group 24a and nozzles 21 belonging to the second nozzle group 24b, are collectively referred to as an overlapping region.

[0051] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned recording modes are assumed to be a "raster alternating recording mode" and a "column alternating recording mode." If the set recording mode is the raster alternating recording mode, the test pattern recording unit 12a proceeds from "Yes" in step S130 to step S140, and if the set recording mode is the column alternating recording mode, the test pattern recording unit 12a proceeds from "No" in step S130 to step S200. The raster alternating recording mode and the column alternating recording mode may be simply referred to as the first recording mode and the second recording mode.

[0052] The recording after step S120 is, of course, recording to which the correction of step S120 has been applied. Furthermore, for the recording in steps S140 to S180 and the recording in steps S200 to S240, the medium 30 on which the first patch has been recorded may be used as is, or a medium 30 different from the medium 30 on which the first patch has been recorded may be used.

[0053] 6A is a diagram illustrating an example of the raster alternating recording mode, showing a portion of recording data 50 representing some kind of image. Each rectangle in the recording data 50 represents each pixel that makes up the recording data 50. In the recording data 50, one row of pixels along the main scanning direction D2 is one raster line.

[0054] For ease of explanation, each pixel in the print data 50 is marked with a circle, diamond, or hollow arrow. A circle indicates that the corresponding pixel will be printed by a nozzle 21 belonging to the first nozzle group 24a, and a diamond indicates that the corresponding pixel will be printed by a nozzle 21 belonging to the second nozzle group 24b. The hollow arrow within a pixel indicates the direction of the pass used to print the corresponding pixel, that is, whether it will be printed by a forward scan or a backward scan. Printing a pixel naturally means that if a dot is specified for that pixel in the print data, a dot will be ejected from the nozzle 21.

[0055] 6A, in the raster alternating recording mode, all pixels within a single raster line are printed in passes of the same direction, while multiple raster lines aligned in the transport direction D1 alternate in the direction of the passes that differ for each raster line. Also, as shown in FIG. 6A, the pixels within a single raster line are alternately divided along the main scanning direction D2 into pixels printed by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and pixels printed by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6A, each raster line printed in the raster alternating recording mode corresponds to an overlapping area.

[0056] FIGS. 6B and 6C are diagrams illustrating an example of the column-alternating printing mode, each showing a portion of print data 50. The interpretation of FIGS. 6B and 6C is the same as that of FIG. 6A. In the column-alternating printing mode, all pixels in a single column, i.e., a pixel row, are printed using passes oriented in the same direction, while the pass directions for each of the multiple pixel rows aligned in the main scanning direction D2 are alternately different. Also, according to FIGS. 6B and 6C, the pixels in a single raster line are alternately divided along the main scanning direction D2 into pixels printed by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and pixels printed by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b. Therefore, each raster line printed in the column-alternating printing mode, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, corresponds to an overlapping area.

[0057] The differences between Figures 6B and 6C are the direction of the passes and the combination of the first nozzle group 24a and the second nozzle group 24b. In the example of the column alternating recording mode in Figure 6B, raster lines are recorded by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a during the forward scan and the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b during the backward scan. On the other hand, in the example of the column alternating recording mode in Figure 6C, raster lines are recorded by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a during the backward scan and the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b during the forward scan. The mode in Figure 6B may be called the first column alternating recording mode, and the mode in Figure 6C may be called the second column alternating recording mode. Either the first column alternating recording mode or the second column alternating recording mode may be adopted as the column alternating recording mode, and in recording based on one recording data 50, some raster lines may be recorded in the first column alternating recording mode and other raster lines may be recorded in the second column alternating recording mode.

[0058] 6A, 6B, and 6C, the raster lines in the overlapping regions are all recorded only by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b. However, the raster lines in the overlapping regions may also be recorded by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a, the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b, and the nozzles 21 of the third nozzle group 24c.

[0059] In step S140, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a forward scan, and forms a "second pattern" on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b. Following the forward scan in step S140, in step S150, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a return scan, and forms a "fourth pattern" on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b.

[0060] In step S160, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the transport unit 17 to feed the paper. The term "feeding the paper" used here refers to the process of transporting the medium 30, on which the second and fourth patterns have been formed by the second nozzle group 24b in steps S140 and S150, to a position where the first nozzle group 24a can perform recording. The transport distance required for paper feeding is known in advance from the distance between the second nozzle group 24b and the first nozzle group 24a in the transport direction D1.

[0061] In step S170, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a forward scan, and forms a "first pattern" by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a, corresponding to the second pattern recorded on the medium 30 in step S140. Following the forward scan in step S170, in step S180, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a return scan, and forms a "third pattern" by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a, corresponding to the fourth pattern recorded on the medium 30 in step S150.

[0062] As a result of steps S140, S160, and S170, recording of a "second patch" consisting of the first pattern and the second pattern is completed. Also, as a result of steps S150, S160, and S180, recording of a "third patch" consisting of the third pattern and the fourth pattern is completed. Steps S140 to S180 correspond to "second control" for forming the second and third patches on medium 30. In this way, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, if the determination in step S130 is "Yes," the second control is executed in addition to the first control.

[0063] 7 and 8 are diagrams for explaining a specific example of how the second patch 402 and the third patch 403 are recorded on the medium 30 in steps S140 to S180. In particular, Fig. 7 corresponds to the explanation of steps S140 and S150, and Fig. 8 corresponds to the explanation of steps S170 and S180. Note that the explanation of Fig. 5B applies mutatis mutandis to Figs. 7 to 9, and some explanations will be omitted.

[0064] In step S140, the test pattern recording unit 12a records multiple second patterns 422 at intervals in the main scanning direction D2 on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b based on the second pattern data 42 of the patch image data 40 during the forward scan. Following the forward scan in step S140, in step S150, without any transport operation in between, the test pattern recording unit 12a records a plurality of fourth patterns 424 at intervals in the main scanning direction D2 on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b based on the second pattern data 42 of the patch image data 40 during the backward scan. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the plurality of second patterns 422 and the plurality of fourth patterns 424 are lined up at intervals in the main scanning direction D2.

[0065] Next, after paper feeding in step S160, in step S170, the test pattern recording unit 12a records multiple first patterns 411 corresponding to each of the multiple second patterns 422 by ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a based on the first pattern data 41 of the patch image data 40 during the forward scan.

[0066] Following the forward scan in step S170, in step S180, without any transport operation in between, the test pattern recording unit 12a performs a backward scan by ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a based on the first pattern data 41 of the patch image data 40, thereby recording a plurality of third patterns 413 corresponding to each of the plurality of fourth patterns 424. As a result, as shown in Fig. 8, a plurality of second patches 402 made up of the first pattern 411 and the second pattern 422 and a plurality of third patches 403 made up of the third pattern 413 and the fourth pattern 424 are arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction D2.

[0067] As can be seen from Fig. 8, the relative positions of the patterns of the plurality of second patches 402 and the plurality of third patches 403 also differ depending on the amount of deviation, similar to the plurality of first patches 401 shown in Fig. 5B. In the process of printing the plurality of patches, the position of either one of the patterns constituting the patch or the other pattern may be shifted depending on the amount of deviation, such as "-2," "-1," "0," "+1," or "+2." For example, in steps S140 to S180 and steps S200 to S250 (described later), the position of the pattern to be printed first may differ for each patch depending on the amount of deviation, relative to the predetermined position of the pattern to be printed later.

[0068] Specifically, in step S140, the detection pattern recording unit 12a forms a plurality of second patterns 422 by varying the amount of deviation in the main scanning direction D2 from the first pattern 411 for each second pattern 422, thereby resulting in a plurality of second patches 402 being recorded at the time step S170 is completed. Similarly, in step S150, the detection pattern recording unit 12a forms a plurality of fourth patterns 424 by varying the amount of deviation in the main scanning direction D2 from the third pattern 413 for each fourth pattern 424, thereby resulting in a plurality of third patches 403 being recorded at the time step S180 is completed.

[0069] In step S190, the misalignment correction unit 12b corrects misalignment due to tilt for overlapping areas printed in the raster alternating printing mode based on the printing results of the second and third patches. Misalignment due to tilt refers to misalignment of dots due to tilt, such as the bowing or rotation of the print head 19, as described above. Such misalignment is likely to be significant between dots ejected by nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b, which are far apart in the transport direction D1. The second patch is composed of a first pattern formed by the first nozzle group 24a during a forward scan and a second pattern formed by the second nozzle group 24b during a forward scan. The third patch is composed of a third pattern formed by the first nozzle group 24a during a backward scan and a fourth pattern formed by the second nozzle group 24b during a backward scan. Therefore, the second and third patches are suitable for detecting deviations according to the inclination that occur in overlapping areas in the raster alternating recording mode.

[0070] The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires a correction amount for the misalignment corresponding to the tilt. For example, when multiple second patches 402 as shown in FIG. 8 are recorded on the medium 30, the user visually identifies the second patch 402 that most closely resembles the ideal positional relationship between the first pattern 411 and the second pattern 422. In the example of FIG. 8, the second patch 402 with a misalignment amount of "0" has a misalignment between the first pattern 411 and the second pattern 422. This indicates that there is a misalignment corresponding to the tilt in the current state of the recording device 10. On the other hand, the second patch 402 with a misalignment amount of "-2" has the most ideal positional relationship between the first pattern 411 and the second pattern 422. Therefore, the user inputs the misalignment amount "-2" for the second patch 402 by operating the operation reception unit 14. The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires the input misalignment amount "-2" as a correction amount for the misalignment corresponding to the tilt for the overlapping area recorded in the forward scan in the raster alternating recording mode. The overlapping areas printed by forward scanning in the raster alternating printing mode may be rephrased as raster lines printed by forward scanning in the raster alternating printing mode.

[0071] 8 are recorded on the medium 30, the user inputs the amount of deviation of the third patch 403 that provides the most ideal positional relationship between the third pattern 413 and the fourth pattern 424, for example, "+1." The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires the input amount of deviation "+1" as the correction amount for the deviation according to the tilt for the overlapping area recorded in the backward scan in the raster alternating recording mode. The overlapping area recorded in the backward scan in the raster alternating recording mode can also be referred to as the raster line recorded in the backward scan in the raster alternating recording mode. Of course, similar to obtaining the correction amount for the misalignment in bidirectional printing, the positional deviation correction unit 12b may obtain the correction amount for the misalignment according to the tilt based on the results of the scanner reading the medium 30 after patch printing, rather than based on input from the user.

[0072] The misalignment correction unit 12b corrects the misalignment corresponding to the slope in accordance with the acquired correction amount. As in the example above, if the correction amount for the overlapping area printed by forward scans in raster alternating recording mode is "-2," then by shifting the timing of dot ejection by the second nozzle group 24b during the forward scan by two pixels overall in the reverse direction of movement, that is, by advancing it by two pixels, the positional relationship between printing by the first nozzle group 24a and printing by the second nozzle group 24b in this overlapping area will be ideal. Therefore, the misalignment correction unit 12b sets the pixels to be printed by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b for each raster line printed by forward scans in raster alternating recording mode to be shifted by two pixels in the direction of backward movement, and applies this setting to subsequent raster alternating recording modes. Furthermore, as in the example above, if the correction amount for the overlapping area printed in the backward scan in the raster alternating recording mode is "+1", the misalignment correction unit 12b sets the pixels to be printed by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b for each raster line printed in the backward scan in the raster alternating recording mode to be shifted by one pixel in the direction of forward movement, and applies this setting to the raster alternating recording mode to be executed thereafter.

[0073] Of course, as long as the same correction effect can be obtained, the misregistration correction unit 12b may correct either the timing of printing by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a for printing the overlapping area or the timing of printing by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b for printing this overlapping area, or may correct both, depending on the obtained correction amount. This idea also applies to step S250, which will be described later. The flowchart in FIG. 4 ends after step S190. The corrections in steps S190 and S250 are not actually corrections made to arbitrary print data at these timings, but rather are processes that set up corrections to be made to print data when printing is performed based on print data arbitrarily selected by the user thereafter.

[0074] In step S200, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a forward scan, and forms a "second pattern" on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b. Following the forward scan in step S200, in step S210, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a backward scan, and forms a "fourth pattern" on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b. In other words, steps S200 and S210 are the same processes as steps S140 and S150. The paper feeding in step S220 is also the same process as step S160.

[0075] In step S230, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a forward scan, and forms a "first pattern" by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a in correspondence with the fourth pattern recorded on the medium 30 in step S210. Following the forward scan in step S230, in step S240, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a backward scan, and forms a "third pattern" by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a in correspondence with the second pattern recorded on the medium 30 in step S200.

[0076] As a result of steps S210, S220, and S230, recording of a "fourth patch" consisting of the first pattern and the fourth pattern is completed. Also, as a result of steps S200, S220, and S240, recording of a "fifth patch" consisting of the second pattern and the third pattern is completed. Steps S200 to S240 correspond to "third control" for forming the fourth patch and the fifth patch on medium 30. In this way, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, if the determination in step S130 is "No", the third control is executed in addition to the first control.

[0077] 7 and 9 are diagrams for explaining a specific example of how the fourth patch 404 and the fifth patch 405 are recorded on the medium 30 in steps S200 to S240. That is, for the specific example of steps S200 and S210, the explanation of steps S140 and S150 with reference to Fig. 7 can be applied mutatis mutandis. Fig. 9 corresponds to the explanation of steps S230 and S240.

[0078] After paper feeding in step S220, in step S230, the test pattern recording unit 12a records multiple first patterns 411 corresponding to each of the multiple fourth patterns 424 by ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a based on the first pattern data 41 of the patch image data 40 during the forward scan.

[0079] Following the forward scan in step S230, in step S240, without any transport operation, the test pattern recording unit 12a performs a backward scan, ejecting ink from the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a based on the first pattern data 41 of the patch image data 40, to record a plurality of third patterns 413 corresponding to each of the plurality of second patterns 422. As a result, as shown in Fig. 9, a plurality of fourth patches 404 formed by the first pattern 411 and the fourth pattern 424 and a plurality of fifth patches 405 formed by the second pattern 422 and the third pattern 413 are arranged at intervals in the main scanning direction D2.

[0080] 9, the relative positions of the multiple fourth patches 404 and the multiple fifth patches 405 also vary depending on the amount of deviation. Specifically, in step S200, the detection pattern recording unit 12a forms multiple second patterns 422 by varying the amount of deviation for each second pattern 422 in the main scanning direction D2 relative to the third pattern 413, thereby resulting in multiple fifth patches 405 being recorded when step S240 is completed. Similarly, in step S210, the detection pattern recording unit 12a forms multiple fourth patterns 424 by varying the amount of deviation for each fourth pattern 424 in the main scanning direction D2 relative to the first pattern 411, thereby resulting in multiple fourth patches 404 being recorded when step S230 is completed.

[0081] In step S250, the misregistration correction unit 12b corrects misalignment due to tilt for overlapping areas printed in column-alternate printing mode based on the printing results of the fourth and fifth patches. The fourth patch is composed of a first pattern formed by the first nozzle group 24a during a forward scan and a fourth pattern formed by the second nozzle group 24b during a backward scan. The fifth patch is composed of a second pattern formed by the second nozzle group 24b during a forward scan and a third pattern formed by the first nozzle group 24a during a backward scan. Therefore, the fourth and fifth patches are suitable for detecting misalignment due to tilt that occurs in overlapping areas in column-alternate printing mode.

[0082] The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires a correction amount for the misalignment corresponding to the tilt. For example, when multiple fourth patches 404 as shown in FIG. 9 are recorded on the medium 30, the user visually identifies the fourth patch 404 that most closely resembles the ideal positional relationship between the first pattern 411 and the fourth pattern 424. In the example of FIG. 9, the fourth patch 404 with a misalignment amount of "+1" has the most ideal positional relationship between the first pattern 411 and the fourth pattern 424. Therefore, the user inputs the misalignment amount "+1" for this fourth patch 404 by operating the operation reception unit 14. The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires the input misalignment amount "+1" as a correction amount for the misalignment corresponding to the tilt for the overlapping area recorded in the first column alternating recording mode (see FIG. 6B). The overlapping area recorded in the first column alternating recording mode may also be referred to as a raster line recorded in the first column alternating recording mode.

[0083] Similarly, when multiple fifth patches 405 as shown in FIG. 9 are recorded on the medium 30, the user inputs the amount of deviation of the fifth patch 405 that provides the most ideal positional relationship between the second pattern 422 and the third pattern 413, for example, "-2." The misalignment correction unit 12b acquires the input amount of deviation "-2" as the amount of correction for the deviation corresponding to the slope for the overlapping area recorded in the second alternating column recording mode (see FIG. 6C). The overlapping area recorded in the second alternating column recording mode may also be referred to as a raster line recorded in the second alternating column recording mode.

[0084] The misregistration correction unit 12b corrects the misalignment according to the acquired correction amount. As in the example above, if the correction amount for the overlapping area printed in the first column alternating printing mode is "+1," then by shifting the timing of dot ejection by the second nozzle group 24b in the backward scanning by one pixel overall in the reverse direction of movement, that is, by advancing it by one pixel, the positional relationship between printing by the first nozzle group 24a and printing by the second nozzle group 24b in this overlapping area will be ideal. Therefore, the misregistration correction unit 12b sets the pixels to be printed by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b in the backward scanning to be shifted by one pixel in the direction of forward movement for each raster line printed in the first column alternating printing mode, and applies this setting to all subsequent first column alternating printing modes. Furthermore, if the correction amount for the overlapping area printed in the second column alternating printing mode is "-2" as in the above example, the misregistration correction unit 12b sets, for each raster line printed in the second column alternating printing mode, the pixels to be printed by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b in the forward scan to be shifted by two pixels in the direction of backward movement, and applies this setting to the second column alternating printing mode to be executed thereafter. After passing through step 250, the flowchart of Figure 4 ends.

[0085] In this manner, a "single adjustment operation" in this embodiment includes a series of pattern or patch recording processes starting from step S100 and ending in step S180 or step S240. Furthermore, a single adjustment operation may also include the corrections in step S120, step S190, or step S250.

[0086] 3. Correction effect: Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of the effect of the correction of this embodiment. In Fig. 10, the upper part shows a portion of the recording result on medium 30 when the correction of this embodiment is not applied, the middle part shows a portion of the recording result on medium 30 when only the correction of step S120 is applied, and the lower part shows a portion of the recording result on medium 30 when the corrections of steps S120 and S190 are applied. Of course, what is output as the recording result based on arbitrary recording data after the flowchart of Fig. 4 is what is shown in the lower part of Fig. 10, but here, for ease of understanding, the effect of the correction will be explained in stages.

[0087] FIG. 10 shows the printing results of two raster lines RL1 and RL2 adjacent to each other in the transport direction D1. The printing results of the raster lines RL1 and RL2 are also simply referred to as raster lines RL1 and RL2. Each circle on the medium 30 represents an ejected dot. Raster line RL1 is a raster line printed by a forward scan in raster alternating printing mode, and raster line RL2 is a raster line printed by a backward scan in raster alternating printing mode. Also, in FIG. 10, the white circles represent dots printed by nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a, and the gray circles represent dots printed by nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b. The white and gray colors of these dots are merely used to identify the nozzles 21 used for printing and do not represent the color of the dots themselves. Both raster lines RL1 and RL2 fall within overlapping areas.

[0088] Assume that the positions of the raster lines RL1 and RL2 match in the main scanning direction D2 at the print data stage. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 10 , when printing is performed without applying the correction of this embodiment, a bidirectional printing misalignment, i.e., a misalignment along the main scanning direction D2, occurs between the raster line RL1 printed during forward scanning and the raster line RL2 printed during backward scanning. Also, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 10 , in each of the raster lines RL1 and RL2, a misalignment along the main scanning direction D2 occurs between the dots (white circles) printed by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and the dots (gray circles) printed by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b. In the raster line RL1, the white circles and gray circles should alternate, but the gray circles are misaligned by two pixels in the forward scanning direction relative to the white circles. Furthermore, on raster line RL2, the white circles and gray circles should be positioned alternately, but the gray circles overlap with the white circles, shifted by one pixel in the direction of backward movement.

[0089] Comparing the middle row with the top row in Figure 10 shows that the bidirectional printing misalignment between raster lines RL1 and RL2 has been corrected following the correction in step S120. Furthermore, looking at the bottom row in Figure 10, in addition to correcting the bidirectional printing misalignment, the correction in step S190 has also corrected the misalignment between the white circles and gray circles on each of raster lines RL1 and RL2, which corresponds to their slopes.

[0090] Although the effect of correction on the overlapping area when recording using the column alternating recording mode is not shown in the figure, it goes without saying that the effects of the corrections in steps S120 and S250 will result in a recording result in which the deviations in bidirectional recording and deviations due to tilt are corrected.

[0091] 4. Summary: As described above, according to this embodiment, the recording device 10 includes a recording head 19 having a nozzle row 23 in which a plurality of nozzles 21 for ejecting ink onto a medium 30 are aligned in the nozzle row direction D3, and a control unit 11 that controls the ink ejection by the recording head 19. The recording device 10 performs recording on the medium 30 by a transport operation that moves the recording head 19 and the medium 30 relatively in a first direction, a forward scan that ejects ink as the recording head 19 moves forward along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a backward scan that ejects ink as the recording head 19 moves backward along the second direction. The nozzle row 23 includes a first nozzle group 24a, a second nozzle group 24b, and a third nozzle group 24c between the first nozzle group 24a and the second nozzle group 24b, along the nozzle row direction D3. The control unit 11 can control, during the forward scan, the formation of a first pattern on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a and the formation of a second pattern on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b, and can control, during the return scan, the formation of a third pattern on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a and the formation of a fourth pattern on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b. The control unit 11 is capable of executing a first control for forming, on the medium 30 without a conveying operation, a first patch 401 in which the first pattern and the third pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction; a second control for forming, on the medium 30, a second patch 402 in which the first pattern and the second pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a third patch 403 in which the third pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction; and a third control for forming, on the medium 30, a fourth patch 404 in which the first pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a fifth patch 405 in which the second pattern and the third pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and executes the first control and the second control, or the first control and the third control, in a single adjustment operation.

[0092] According to the above configuration, the first patch 401, the second patch 402, and the third patch 403 are recorded on the medium 30 by the first control and the second control, and the first patch 401, the fourth patch 404, and the fifth patch 405 are recorded on the medium 30 by the first control and the third control. In other words, patches suitable for correcting dot position shifts caused by bidirectional printing and patches suitable for correcting dot position shifts caused by tilting of the print head 19, such as bowing, are recorded. Therefore, it is possible to correct all of these types of shifts, leading to improved print quality.

[0093] Furthermore, misalignment of dots due to tilt, such as bowing, tends to become more pronounced when printing is performed using the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b, which are far apart within the nozzle row 23. In consideration of this situation, this embodiment uses the first nozzle group 24a and the second nozzle group 24b to print the second patch 402 and the third patch 403, and the fourth patch 404 and the fifth patch 405, while not using the third nozzle group 24c to print patterns or patches. Therefore, the second to fifth patches, for which an appropriate correction amount for correcting misalignment according to tilt can be easily obtained, can be printed while suppressing the overall ink consumption required for pattern printing.

[0094] Furthermore, the first patch 401 is printed using the first nozzle group 24a without a transport operation. This reduces ink consumption and makes it possible to obtain the first patch 401 without the effects of errors and the like caused by the transport operation, and it becomes possible to correct the deviation in bidirectional printing with higher accuracy based on the printing result of the first patch 401. In addition, the transport operation that moves the recording head 19 and the medium 30 relative to each other in the first direction may include not only the operation in which the transport unit 17 transports the medium 30 downstream as described above, but also the operation of moving the recording head 19 upstream at a timing other than pass execution.

[0095] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in each of the first control and the second control, or each of the first control and the third control, the control unit 11 forms multiple patches in which the relative positions in the second direction of the multiple patterns that make up the patches are different. According to the above configuration, for each of the first to fifth patches, the patterns constituting the patch are formed at different relative positions in the main scanning direction D2, thereby making it possible to obtain the optimal correction amount for misalignment correction according to the patch among the multiple patches whose pattern positional relationship is closest to the ideal.

[0096] However, in this embodiment, it is not essential to record multiple copies of each of the first to fifth patches. Instead of recording multiple copies of each of the first to fifth patches as shown in FIGS. 5B, 8, and 9, the control unit 11 may record only one copy of each of the first to fifth patches, for example, a patch with a deviation amount of "0." For example, even if only the first patch 401 with a deviation amount of "0" is recorded as the first patch 401, it is possible to calculate a correction amount appropriate for correcting the deviation by detecting the presence or absence and degree of deviation from the positional relationship in the main scanning direction D2 between the first pattern 411 and the third pattern 423 that make up this first patch 401. The same applies to the second to fifth patches.

[0097] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when recording in an overlapping area that is the target of ink ejection from the first nozzle group 24a and ink ejection from the second nozzle group 24b, the control unit 11 corrects the timing of at least one of the ink ejection from the first nozzle group 24a and the ink ejection from the second nozzle group 24b depending on the relative positions in the second direction of the patterns that make up the patch. That is, as can be seen from the explanations of steps S190 and S250, control unit 11 corrects the timing of at least one of the ink ejection from first nozzle group 24a and the ink ejection from second nozzle group 24b by correcting the data for printing the overlapping area based on the amount of correction for misalignment acquired according to the relative positions of the patterns in the second and third patches and the fourth and fifth patches. This makes it possible to improve the printing quality in the overlapping area where misalignment of dots due to tilting, such as bowing, tends to be noticeable.

[0098] This embodiment discloses inventions in various categories, such as not only devices and systems, but also methods executed by devices and systems, and programs 12 that cause a processor to execute the methods. That is, it is possible to grasp a printing method for printing on the medium 30 by a transport operation for relatively moving the medium 30 and the print head 19, which has a nozzle row 23 in which a plurality of nozzles 21 for ejecting ink onto the medium 30 are aligned in the nozzle row direction D3, in a first direction, an outward scan in which ink is ejected as the print head 19 moves outward in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a backward scan in which ink is ejected as the print head 19 moves backward in the second direction. In this printing method, the nozzle row 23 has, along the nozzle row direction D3, a first nozzle group 24a, a second nozzle group 24b, and a third nozzle group 24c between the first nozzle group 24a and the second nozzle group 24b. Then, a pattern formed on the medium 30 by ink ejection from the first nozzle group 24a in the forward scan is defined as a first pattern, a pattern formed on the medium 30 by ink ejection from the second nozzle group 24b in the forward scan is defined as a second pattern, a pattern formed on the medium 30 by ink ejection from the first nozzle group 24a in the backward scan is defined as a third pattern, and a pattern formed on the medium 30 by ink ejection from the second nozzle group 24b in the backward scan is defined as a fourth pattern, and a first patch arranged at a position where the first pattern and the third pattern overlap when viewed from the second direction is formed on the medium 30 without a transport operation. When the first control is a control for forming on the medium 30 a second patch in which the first pattern and the second pattern are arranged in a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a third patch in which the third pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged in a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and the third control is a control for forming on the medium 30 a fourth patch in which the first pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged in a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a fifth patch in which the second pattern and the third pattern are arranged in a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, the recording method executes the first control and the second control, or the first control and the third control, in one adjustment operation.

[0099] 5. Variations: Below, several modifications included in this embodiment will be described. First variant: As a printing mode, in addition to the above-mentioned raster alternating printing mode and column alternating printing mode, a "sash printing mode" can be envisioned.

[0100] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of the sash recording mode, showing a portion of the recording data 50. The interpretation of FIGS. 11A and 11B is the same as that of FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C. In the sash recording mode, pixels are alternately divided along the transport direction D1 and the main scanning direction D2 into pixels recorded during forward scanning and pixels recorded during backward scanning. Furthermore, pixels within a single raster line are alternately divided along the main scanning direction D2 into pixels recorded by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and pixels recorded by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b. Therefore, each raster line recorded in the sash recording mode, as shown in FIG. 11A or 11B, corresponds to an overlapping area.

[0101] The difference between FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B is the same as the difference between FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C. That is, in the example of the sash recording mode in FIG. 11A, raster lines are recorded by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a during the forward scan and the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b during the backward scan. On the other hand, in the example of the sash recording mode in FIG. 11B, raster lines are recorded by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a during the backward scan and the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b during the forward scan. The mode in FIG. 11A may be called the first sash recording mode, and the mode in FIG. 11B may be called the second sash recording mode. Either the first sash recording mode or the second sash recording mode may be used as the sash recording mode, and in recording based on one recording data 50, some raster lines may be recorded in the first sash recording mode and other raster lines may be recorded in the second sash recording mode.

[0102] Comparing Figure 11A with Figure 6B, they differ in that pixels on raster lines adjacent to each other in the transport direction D1 that have the same combination of pass orientation and nozzle group used for printing are shifted so that they are not adjacent to each other in the transport direction D1. Similarly, comparing Figure 11B with Figure 6C, they differ in that pixels on raster lines adjacent to each other in the transport direction D1 that have the same combination of pass orientation and nozzle group used for printing are shifted so that they are not adjacent to each other in the transport direction D1.

[0103] In this way, according to the cross-strip recording mode, one raster line includes pixels recorded in the forward scan and pixels recorded in the backward scan, and also includes pixels recorded by the nozzles 21 of the first nozzle group 24a and pixels recorded by the nozzles 21 of the second nozzle group 24b, which is the same feature as the column alternating recording mode. Therefore, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the cross-strip recording mode can be treated in the same way as the column alternating recording mode. That is, if the recording mode set for recording in the overlapping area is the cross-strip recording mode, the test pattern recording unit 12a executes steps S200 to S250 from the branch of step S130, just like the column alternating recording mode. The above explanation can be interpreted by replacing the column alternating recording mode with the cross-strip recording mode, the first column alternating recording mode with the first cross-strip recording mode, and the second column alternating recording mode with the second cross-strip recording mode, respectively. The term "sash recording mode" is merely one name, and it may also be called, for example, zigzag recording mode or third recording mode.

[0104] Second variant: When executing the first control and the second control, the control unit 11 may form the first pattern 411 for forming the first patch 401 and the second pattern 422 for forming the second patch 402 on the medium 30 by the same forward scan.

[0105] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing and correcting a test pattern according to Modification 2. The control unit 11 can execute the flowchart of Fig. 12 when the printing mode preset for printing overlapping areas is the raster alternating printing mode.

[0106] In step S102, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a forward scan, forming a "first pattern" on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a, and forming a "second pattern" on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b. In other words, step S102 is a process that combines step S100 and step S140 in FIG. 4. As can be seen from the description so far, as a result of step S102, the first pattern 411 shown in FIG. 5B and the second pattern 422 shown in FIG. 7 are recorded on the medium 30 in one forward scan.

[0107] Following the forward scan in step S102, in step S112, the test pattern recording unit 12a controls the carriage 18 and the recording head 19 to perform a backward scan without a transport operation. Then, a "fourth pattern" is formed on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group 24b, and a "third pattern" is formed by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group 24a, corresponding to the first pattern recorded in step S102. In other words, step S112 is a process that combines steps S110 and S150 in FIG. 4. As a result of step S112, the fourth pattern 424 shown in FIG. 7 and the third pattern 423 shown in FIG. 5B are recorded on the medium 30 in one backward scan. Therefore, at the end of step S112, the first patch 401 shown in FIG. 5B and the second pattern 422 and the fourth pattern 424 shown in FIG. 7 are recorded on the medium 30. Of course, the first patch 401 is recorded at a position on the medium 30 downstream of the second pattern 422 and the fourth pattern 424.

[0108] Steps S120, S160, S170, S180, and S190 following step S112 are as described in FIG. 4. In the flowchart of FIG. 12, steps S102 and S112 correspond to the first control. Steps S102 and S112 also function as part of the second control. By forming the first pattern 411 for constituting the first patch 401 and the second pattern 422 for constituting the second patch 402 in the same forward scan, the first control and the second control can be performed partially in parallel, thereby reducing the time required for the first control and the second control. Furthermore, according to FIG. 12, by forming the third pattern 423 for constituting the first patch 401 and the fourth pattern 424 for constituting the third patch 403 in the same backward scan, the first control and the second control can be performed partially in parallel, thereby reducing the time required for the first control and the second control.

[0109] The individual raster lines that make up the overlapping area printed in the raster alternating printing mode are printed by either forward scanning or backward scanning only, and therefore are not affected by misalignment in bidirectional printing. The second patch 402 and the third patch 403, which are compatible with the raster alternating printing mode, are also printed by either forward scanning or backward scanning only, and therefore are naturally not affected by misalignment in bidirectional printing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, even if the second control is started before the correction in step S120, the second patch 402 and the third patch 403 completed in steps S170 and S180 are patches that accurately represent misalignment due to tilt, such as bowing. In the flowchart of FIG. 12, the position deviation correction unit 12b may execute step S120 not earlier than step S160, but after step S180, when recording of the first patch 401, the second patch 402, and the third patch 403 has all been completed.

[0110] As described above, steps S140 and S150 in FIG. 4 are the same process as steps S200 and S210. Therefore, step S102 can be considered to be a process that combines steps S100 and S200 in FIG. 4, and step S112 can be considered to be a process that combines steps S110 and S210 in FIG. 4. Therefore, although not shown, by replacing steps S160 to S190 in FIG. 12 with steps S220 to S250 in FIG. 4, a flowchart according to the second modified example that can be executed when the column alternating recording mode is set for recording overlapping areas can be understood. Even in this flowchart of the second modified example that is performed in the column alternating recording mode, the effect of reducing the time required for the first control and the third control can be obtained.

[0111] Third variant: The control unit 11 is capable of changing the movement speed of the recording head 19 along the second direction, i.e., the main scanning direction D2. The movement speed of the recording head 19, i.e., the speed of forward movement and backward movement, is actually the movement speed of the carriage 18. Hereinafter, the movement speed of the recording head 19 will be simply referred to as the movement speed. On this premise, the control unit 11 may perform first speed control in the first control, in which the movement speed is set to a first speed and the first patch 401 is formed, and further perform second speed control in the first control, in which the movement speed is set to a second speed different from the first speed and the first patch 401 is formed.

[0112] The first speed and the second speed are both preset speeds. For example, the first speed is smaller than the second speed. The first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the first speed control reflects a bidirectional printing deviation that occurs when forward scanning and backward scanning are performed at the first speed. Therefore, the control unit 11 can obtain a correction amount (first correction amount) for correcting the bidirectional printing deviation when bidirectional printing is performed at the first speed, based on the first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the first speed control. Similarly, the first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the second speed control reflects a bidirectional printing deviation that occurs when forward scanning and backward scanning are performed at the second speed. Therefore, the control unit 11 can obtain a correction amount (second correction amount) for correcting the bidirectional printing deviation when bidirectional printing is performed at the second speed, based on the first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the second speed control.

[0113] Furthermore, when performing printing based on print data arbitrarily selected by the user at a third movement speed different from the first and second speeds, the control unit 11 controls printing based on the first patch 401 formed using the first speed control and the first patch 401 formed using the second speed control. Controlling printing based on the first patch 401 formed using the first speed control and the first patch 401 formed using the second speed control means controlling printing based on the first and second correction amounts. Specifically, the control unit 11 calculates a correction amount (third correction amount) for correcting deviations in bidirectional printing when performing bidirectional printing at the third speed using a predetermined interpolation calculation from the first and second correction amounts based on the magnitude relationship or ratio between the first, second, and third speeds. Then, when setting the movement speed to the third speed and performing printing based on print data, the control unit 11 corrects the timing of at least one of the ink ejection timings during forward scanning and reverse scanning in accordance with the third correction amount, as described in step S120. With this configuration, regardless of the speed at which the control unit 11 sets the movement speed to perform recording, it is possible to obtain high-quality recording results by correcting the deviation caused by bidirectional recording at the set movement speed.

[0114] Fourth variant: The control unit 11 can adjust the PG using the PG adjustment unit 20. On this premise, the control unit 11 may perform a first distance control in the first control to form the first patch 401 with the PG set as a first distance, and may further perform a second distance control in the first control to form the first patch 401 with the PG set as a second distance different from the first distance.

[0115] The first distance and the second distance are both a predetermined PG. For example, the first distance is smaller than the second distance. The first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the first distance control reflects a bidirectional printing deviation that occurs when forward scanning and backward scanning are performed with PG = the first distance. Therefore, the control unit 11 can obtain a correction amount (fourth correction amount) for correcting the bidirectional printing deviation when bidirectional printing is performed with PG = the first distance, based on the first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the first distance control. Similarly, the first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the second distance control reflects a bidirectional printing deviation that occurs when forward scanning and backward scanning are performed with PG = the second distance. Therefore, the control unit 11 can obtain a correction amount (fifth correction amount) for correcting the bidirectional printing deviation when bidirectional printing is performed with PG = the second distance, based on the first patch 401 recorded on the medium 30 using the second distance control.

[0116] Furthermore, when recording based on recording data arbitrarily selected by the user with PG set to a third distance different from the first distance and the second distance, the control unit 11 controls the recording based on the first patch 401 formed by the first distance control and the first patch 401 formed by the second distance control. Controlling the recording based on the first patch 401 formed by the first distance control and the first patch 401 formed by the second distance control means controlling the recording based on the fourth correction amount and the fifth correction amount. Specifically, the control unit 11 calculates a correction amount (sixth correction amount) for correcting deviations in bidirectional recording when performing bidirectional recording with PG = the third distance by a predetermined interpolation calculation from the fourth correction amount and the fifth correction amount based on the magnitude relationship or ratio between the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance. Then, when the control unit 11 sets the PG to the third distance and performs printing based on the print data, it only needs to correct the timing of at least one of the ink ejection by the forward scan and the ink ejection by the backward scan in accordance with the sixth correction amount, as described in step S120. With this configuration, no matter what distance the PG is set to when printing is performed, the control unit 11 can obtain high-quality printing results in which deviations caused by bidirectional printing at the set PG are corrected.

[0117] Furthermore, as can be said in common with the third and fourth modifications, even in the second and third controls, the control unit 11 can record the second patch 402, the third patch 403, the fourth patch 404, and the fifth patch 405 under different movement speeds, such as the first speed, the second speed, the first distance, and the second distance, and under different PG conditions. Then, by performing the interpolation calculation of the correction amount as described above, the correction amount for correcting deviation corresponding to the inclination of a bow or the like, which corresponds to the third speed, and the correction amount for correcting deviation corresponding to the inclination of a bow or the like, which corresponds to the third distance, can be obtained, and when recording is performed under the conditions of the third speed and the third distance, deviation correction according to the obtained correction amount can be performed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 10... Recording device, 11... Control unit, 12... Program, 12a... Test pattern recording unit, 12b... Position deviation correction unit, 13... Display unit, 14... Operation reception unit, 15... Communication IF, 16... Memory unit, 17... Transport unit, 18... Carriage, 19... Recording head, 20... PG adjustment unit, 21... Nozzle, 22... Nozzle surface, 23, 23C, 23M, 23Y, 23K... Nozzle array, 24a... First nozzle group, 24b... Second nozzle nozzle group, 24c...third nozzle group, 25...platen, 30...medium, 40...patch image data, 41...first pattern data, 42...second pattern data, 401...first patch, 402...second patch, 403...third patch, 404...fourth patch, 405...fifth patch, 411...first pattern, 422...second pattern, 413, 423...third pattern, 424...fourth pattern, 50...printing data

Claims

1. a print head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a medium are arranged in a nozzle row direction; a control unit that controls ink ejection by the recording head, a recording device that records on the medium by a transport operation that moves the recording head and the medium relatively in a first direction, a forward scan that ejects ink as the recording head moves forward along a second direction that intersects with the first direction, and a backward scan that ejects ink as the recording head moves backward along the second direction, the nozzle row has, along the nozzle row direction, a first nozzle group, a second nozzle group, and a third nozzle group between the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group, The control unit In the forward scan, it is possible to control the formation of a first pattern on the medium by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group and the formation of a second pattern on the medium by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group, In the backward scan, it is possible to control the formation of a third pattern on the medium by ejecting ink from the first nozzle group and the formation of a fourth pattern on the medium by ejecting ink from the second nozzle group, The control unit a first control for forming, on the medium without the transport operation, a first patch that is arranged at a position where the first pattern and the third pattern overlap when viewed from the second direction; a second control for forming, on the medium, a second patch in which the first pattern and the second pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a third patch in which the third pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction; a third control that forms, on the medium, a fourth patch that is arranged at a position where the first pattern and the fourth pattern overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a fifth patch that is arranged at a position where the second pattern and the third pattern overlap when viewed from the second direction; A recording apparatus, characterized in that the first control and the second control, or the first control and the third control, are executed in one adjustment operation.

2. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit forms a plurality of patches in which the relative positions in the second direction of the plurality of patterns constituting the patch are different in each of the first control and the second control, or in each of the first control and the third control.

3. 3. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit, when recording in an overlapping area that is the target of ink ejection from the first nozzle group and ink ejection from the second nozzle group, corrects the timing of at least one of the ink ejection from the first nozzle group and the ink ejection from the second nozzle group depending on the relative positions in the second direction of the patterns that make up the patch.

4. The control unit In the first control, a first speed control is executed to form the first patch by setting the moving speed of the recording head along the second direction to a first speed; and a second speed control is executed in the first control to form the first patch by setting the moving speed to a second speed different from the first speed; The recording device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when recording is performed at a third speed different from the first speed and the second speed, the control unit controls recording based on the first patch formed by the first speed control and the first patch formed by the second speed control.

5. The control unit In the first control, a first distance control is executed to form the first patch by setting a distance between the medium and the recording head as a first distance, and further performing second distance control in the first control to form the first patch by setting the distance to a second distance different from the first distance; A recording device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when recording is performed with the distance set to a third distance different from the first distance and the second distance, the control unit controls recording based on the first patch formed by the first distance control and the first patch formed by the second distance control.

6. A recording device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when executing the first control and the second control, the control unit forms the first pattern for constituting the first patch and the second pattern for constituting the second patch on the medium by the same outward scan.

7. a recording method for recording on a medium by a transport operation for relatively moving a recording head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink onto a medium are aligned in a nozzle row direction in a first direction and the medium, a forward scan for ejecting ink as the recording head moves forward along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a backward scan for ejecting ink as the recording head moves backward along the second direction, the nozzle row has, along the nozzle row direction, a first nozzle group, a second nozzle group, and a third nozzle group between the first nozzle group and the second nozzle group, a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the first nozzle group during the forward scan is defined as a first pattern, a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the second nozzle group during the forward scan is defined as a second pattern, a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the first nozzle group during the return scan is defined as a third pattern, and a pattern formed on the medium by ink ejection from the second nozzle group during the return scan is defined as a fourth pattern, When a first control is a control of forming on the medium without the transport operation a first patch in which the first pattern and the third pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, a second control is a control of forming on the medium a second patch in which the first pattern and the second pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction and a third patch in which the third pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, and a third control is a control of forming on the medium a fourth patch in which the first pattern and the fourth pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction and a fifth patch in which the second pattern and the third pattern are arranged at a position where they overlap when viewed from the second direction, A recording method, comprising: executing the first control and the second control, or the first control and the third control, in one adjustment operation.

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