Recording device, recording method, control device, and program

Abstract

To provide a technique capable of acquiring a deviation amount of a discharge position of reaction liquid without changing a test pattern according to the constitution of a discharge head.SOLUTION: A recording device records a test pattern extending in a prescribed direction and including a detection pattern in which at least two inks and reaction liquid are discharged to one region obtained by dividing the pattern into two pieces, and only the at least two inks, or the at least two inks and the reaction liquid in a smaller amount than that of the one region are discharged to the other region, acquires optical characteristics in the recorded detection pattern, and acquires a deviation amount of the discharge position of the reaction liquid in the prescribed direction on the basis of the acquired optical characteristics of the detection pattern.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in a recording device that ejects a reaction liquid onto the ejected ink, the reaction liquid reacting with the ejected ink. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of patterns with different amounts of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid are used as test patterns for acquiring the amount of deviation, relative to a pattern in which two inks come into contact on a recording medium and bleeding occurs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-138494 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a recording device that ejects a reaction liquid together with ink, the ejection head formed with the ejection ports for ejecting the reaction liquid and the ejection head formed with the ejection ports for ejecting the ink are configured as separate bodies to prevent contact between the reaction liquid and the ink within the device. Furthermore, these ejection heads are spaced apart from each other. In this case, manufacturing tolerances and other factors reduce the positional accuracy between the ejection ports for the reaction liquid and the ejection ports for the ink compared to an integrated ejection head formed with the ejection ports for ejecting the reaction liquid and the ejection ports for ejecting the ink. Considering this positional accuracy, the test pattern for obtaining the above-mentioned deviation amount had to include more patterns in which the deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid differs depending on the ejection amount of the ink.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that can obtain the amount of deviation in the ejection position of a reaction liquid without changing the test pattern depending on the configuration of the ejection head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention is a recording device that includes a recording means that ejects and records onto a recording medium a plurality of inks made of different materials and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks; a measuring means that can measure optical characteristics of a recorded matter; a control means that controls the recording means to record a test pattern using at least two of the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid, causing bleeding between the at least two inks, and controls the measuring means to measure the optical characteristics of the recorded test pattern; and an acquisition means that acquires an amount of deviation in the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the optical characteristics of the test pattern measured by the measurement means, and that performs recording by correcting the amount of deviation, wherein the test pattern extends in a predetermined direction and includes a detection pattern that, when divided into two in the predetermined direction, has one region onto which the at least two inks and the reaction liquid are ejected, and the other region has only the at least two inks, or the at least two inks and a smaller amount of the reaction liquid than in the one region, ejected the detection pattern is composed of a first pattern having a discharge region in one region where only the reaction liquid is discharged, and a non-discharge region in the other region where neither the reaction liquid nor the plurality of inks are discharged, and a second pattern in which, across the entire area in the predetermined direction, discharge regions in which one of two of the plurality of inks is discharged and discharge regions in which the other ink is discharged are alternately arranged in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction; The acquiring means, based on the optical characteristics of the detection pattern, A boundary between the one area and the other area is obtained, and The amount of deviation in the predetermined direction is acquired. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid without changing the test pattern depending on the configuration of the ejection head. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the main part of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical sensor. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an ink ejection port surface of a head unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the recording apparatus. [Figure 6] Schematic diagram of a test pattern. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration patterns of two detection patterns that make up a test pattern. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating bleeding in a pattern formed with two different inks. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of an acquisition process. [Figure 10] A diagram showing two recorded detection patterns. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a method for acquiring the optical characteristics of two detection patterns. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration pattern of two detection patterns used in another embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart of an acquisition process executed by a recording device according to another embodiment. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a method for acquiring the optical characteristics of two detection patterns. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a test pattern used in another embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration pattern of a detection pattern used in another embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart of an acquisition process executed by a recording device according to another embodiment. [Figure 18] 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a method for acquiring optical characteristics of a detection pattern. [Figure 19] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating modified examples of the detection pattern. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of a recording device, a recording method, a control device, and a program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solutions of the present invention. Furthermore, the relative positions, shapes, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and do not limit the scope of the present invention to them.

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

[0011] Furthermore, "recording" does not only refer to the formation of meaningful information such as letters and figures, but also includes both meaningful and insignificant information. Furthermore, it broadly includes the formation of images, patterns, designs, structures, etc. on a recording medium, or the processing of the medium, regardless of whether they are visible to humans. "Recording medium" includes not only paper, which is used in general recording devices, but also cloth, plastic film, metal plates, glass, ceramics, resin, wood, leather, and other materials that can accept ink.

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

[0013] <Configuration of recording device> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a heating unit in the recording apparatus. The recording apparatus 10 in FIG. 1 includes a platen 12 that supports a recording medium P transported by a transport unit (not shown), and a recording unit 14 that performs recording on the recording medium P supported by the platen 12. The recording apparatus 10 also includes a heating unit 16 (see FIG. 2) that heats the recording surface Pf of the recording medium P after recording. The overall operation of the recording apparatus 10 is controlled by a control unit 100 (described later). In this specification, the recording medium P refers to a color with high brightness, such as white, unless otherwise specified.

[0014] The conveying unit conveys the sheet-like recording medium P, which is unwound from the roll paper 27 and fed, to the platen 12 (see FIG. 2) by a conveying roller 23 driven via a gear by a conveying motor 540 (see FIG. 5). After recording, the recording medium P is taken up by a spool 21. The conveying mechanism of the conveying unit is not limited to this, and various known technologies can be used.

[0015] The recording unit 14 includes a carriage 22 movably mounted on a guide shaft 20, and a head unit 24 detachably mounted on the carriage 22 and configured to eject ink onto a recording medium P supported by a platen 12. The guide shaft 20 extends in the X direction, which intersects (orthogonal in this embodiment) with the Y direction in which the recording medium P is transported. This allows the carriage 22 to reciprocate in the +X and -X directions along the guide shaft 20 by driving a scanning motor 536 (see FIG. 5). The head unit 24 includes a plurality of ejection ports 32 (described below) that eject ink, and is attached to the carriage 22 so that an ejection port surface 34 (see FIG. 2) in which the ejection ports 32 are formed faces the platen 12. This allows the recording device 10 to eject ink while moving back and forth in the ±X directions. The specific movement mechanism of the carriage 22 can be various known techniques, such as a carriage belt that transmits driving force from a carriage motor or a mechanism using a lead screw.

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

[0017] In the recording device 10, the recording unit 14, i.e., the head unit 24, moves at a speed of, for example, 40 to 45 inches / sec and performs recording at a resolution of 1200 dpi (1 / 1200 inch). When recording starts, the recording device 10 moves the head unit 24 to a recording start position and transports the recording medium P to a position where the head unit 24 can perform recording. Next, based on the recording data, a recording operation is performed in which ink is ejected while the head unit 24 moves (scans) in the +X direction (or the -X direction). When the recording operation is completed, a transport operation is performed in which the transport unit transports the recording medium P by a predetermined distance. Thereafter, a recording operation is performed in which ink is ejected while the head unit 24 moves in the -X direction (or the +X direction). In this way, the recording device 10 performs recording on the recording medium P by alternately and repeatedly performing the recording operation and the transport operation. Note that in this embodiment, for example, multi-pass recording is performed in which the recording unit 14 scans a unit area on the recording medium multiple times to perform recording.

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

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

[0020] As will be described in detail later, the ink used in the recording device 10 contains a pigment, resin particles, and a water-soluble organic solvent. Therefore, in the recording device 10, the resin particles contained in the ink are heated by the heating unit 16 to melt the resin particles and then evaporate the water-soluble organic solvent in the ink, thereby fixing the pigment to the recording medium. Ink containing resin particles has the property of improving abrasion resistance (fixability). Therefore, the heating temperature is preferably equal to or higher than the minimum film-forming temperature of the resin particles. Furthermore, most of the liquid components in the ink, such as the water-soluble organic solvent, must be evaporated during heating. Therefore, the heating unit 16 is configured to have a temperature distribution in the recording medium transport direction that ensures the heating time required to supply the energy necessary to evaporate most of the liquid components.

[0021] The recording apparatus 10 also includes a recovery unit 542 (see FIG. 5) for maintaining and recovering the good ejection state of the ink and reaction liquid from the ejection ports 32 of the head unit 24. This recovery unit 542 is provided adjacent to the platen 12 near the end of the head unit 24 in the scanning direction (movement direction). The recovery unit 542 may be any known configuration, such as a wiping unit that wipes the ejection port surface 34 or a cap that protects the ejection port surface 34.

[0022] Furthermore, the recording device 10 is provided with a reflective optical sensor (hereinafter referred to as "optical sensor") 200 located upstream of the carriage 22 in the +X direction for measuring the optical characteristics of the recording medium P (see FIG. 2). In the recording device 10, the control unit 100 can measure the reflective optical characteristics of the recording medium P based on the detection results of the optical sensor 200. Specific optical characteristics include reflective optical density using reflectance, transmitted optical density using transmittance, optical reflectance, and reflected light intensity. In this embodiment, the optical characteristic measured is optical reflectance. The location of the optical sensor 200 is not limited to this. That is, the optical sensor 200 may be located downstream of the carriage 22 in the +X direction or downstream of the carriage 22 in the +Y direction. Alternatively, the optical sensor 200 may be located independently of the carriage 22, movable in the X direction, or extending across the width of the recording medium in the X direction.

[0023] <Optical sensor> Fig. 3(a) is a schematic diagram of the optical sensor, and Fig. 3(b) is a diagram showing a detection spot indicating the detection range of the optical sensor of Fig. 3(a). The optical sensor 200 is fixedly provided on the carriage 22 so that its measurement region is located downstream in the +Y direction from an ejection port array 46 (described later) of the head unit 24 (see Fig. 6). The lower surface 200a of the optical sensor 200 coincides with the ejection port surface 34 in the Z direction, or is located downstream of the ejection port surface 34 in the +Z direction.

[0024] The optical sensor 200 includes a light-emitting unit 302 implemented as a visible LED, such as red, green, or blue, and a light-receiving unit 304 implemented as a photodiode. The light-emitting unit 302 and the light-receiving unit 304 are provided on the lower surface 200a of the optical sensor 200. The light-emitting unit 302 irradiates light onto the recording medium P, and the light-receiving unit 304 receives reflected light 308 reflected by the recording medium P. Therefore, in the optical sensor 200, the light 306 irradiated from the light-emitting unit 302 is diffused by the recording medium P, and this reflected light 308 is received by the light-receiving unit 304. The detection spot 310 formed by the light 306 irradiated from the light-emitting unit 302 and diffused by the recording medium P has a diameter of, for example, approximately 3 mm.

[0025] The light receiving unit 304 transmits a detection signal (analog signal) of the received reflected light 308 to a control circuit on an electrical board of the recording device 10 via a flexible cable (not shown) or the like, and converts the detection signal into a digital signal by an A / D converter in the control circuit. When detecting the optical characteristics of a test pattern (described later), the recording medium P is conveyed in the Y direction alternately with the movement of the carriage 22, to which the optical sensor 200 is attached, in the X direction. This allows the optical sensor 200 to detect the optical reflectance of the recording result (hereinafter also referred to as "recorded material") recorded on the recording medium P in synchronization with the timing based on the position signal (encoder signal value) obtained by the encoder 30.

[0026] <Head unit configuration> Next, we will explain the configuration of the head unit 24. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the ejection heads provided on the ejection port surface of the head unit. Note that Figure 4 is a diagram of the ejection port surface 34 as viewed in the -Z direction.

[0027] An ejection head 42 that ejects ink and an ejection head 44 that ejects reaction liquid are formed separately on the ejection port surface 34 of the head unit 24. Each of the ejection heads 42 and 44 has an ejection port array 46 in which ejection ports 32 for ejecting the corresponding ink or reaction liquid are formed along the Y direction. The ejection head 42 has, in order in the +X direction, an ejection port array 46K that ejects K ink, an ejection port array 46C that ejects C ink, an ejection port array 46M that ejects M ink, and an ejection port array 46Y that ejects Y ink. In the ejection head 42, the interval g1 between adjacent ejection port arrays is the same. The ejection head 44 is located downstream of the ejection head 42 in the +X direction and has an ejection port array 46RCT that ejects reaction liquid RCT. The ejection port array 46RCT is separated from the ejection port array 42Y, which is located furthest downstream in the +X direction in the ejection head 44, by an interval g2 (g2>g1).

[0028] As described above, the reactive liquid RCT reacts with the color ink to promote solidification and thickening of the color ink. Specifically, the reactive liquid RCT does not contain coloring materials, but does contain reactive components that react with the coloring materials contained in the color ink, solidifying and thickening the color ink upon contact with the color ink. As a result, the reactive liquid RCT suppresses bleeding of the color ink on the recording medium P.

[0029] In this embodiment, in each ejection port array 46, 1080 ejection ports 32 are arranged in the Y direction with an interval of 1200 dpi between adjacent ejection ports 32. The ejection amount of liquid (color ink and reaction liquid) ejected from one ejection port 32 at a time is, for example, approximately 4.5 pl. Furthermore, each ejection port array 46 is connected to a tank (not shown) that stores the corresponding ink or reaction liquid, and the ink and reaction liquid are supplied from the tank. The tank may be configured as an integral part of the head unit 24, or may be configured to be detachable from the carriage 22.

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

[0031] =Color ink= In this embodiment, the recording device 10 can use pigment inks containing pigments, or water-soluble resin particle inks containing no pigments or trace amounts of pigments. These pigment inks and water-soluble resin particle inks contain water-soluble organic solvents. Various surfactants, defoamers, preservatives, antifungal agents, etc. can be added to the color inks as needed to impart desired properties.

[0032] The color ink contains water-soluble resin particles that adhere to the recording medium P and the colorant and improve the scratch resistance (fixability) of the recorded image. The resin particles are dissolved by heat, and a heater (such as heating unit 16) forms a film of the resin particles and dries the solvent contained in the ink. In this embodiment, the resin particles are polymer particles that exist in a dispersed state in water. The polymer particles that exist in a dispersed state in water may also be in the form of resin particles obtained by homopolymerizing or copolymerizing multiple types of monomers having dissociable groups, i.e., a so-called self-dispersing resin particle dispersion.

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

[0034] Furthermore, the color ink preferably has a pH of 7.0 or higher and 10.0 or lower to prevent impurities from leaching out from components in contact with the ink in the recording device 10 and head unit 24, deterioration of the materials constituting those components, and a decrease in the solubility of the pigment dispersion resin in the ink. The color inks used in this embodiment use anionic colorants. Therefore, the pH of each color ink is stable on the alkaline side, with a value of 8.5 to 9.5.

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

[0036] <Control configuration of recording device> Next, we will explain the configuration of the control system of the recording device 10. Figure 5 is a block diagram of the control system of the recording device 10.

[0037] The control unit 100, which performs overall control of the recording device 10, is equipped with a microcomputer-type central processing unit (CPU) 502, a ROM 504, a RAM 506, and a memory 508. The CPU 502 controls the operation of each component of the recording device 10 and processes input image data based on various programs. The ROM 504 functions as a memory that stores various control and image data processing programs executed by the CPU 502. The RAM 506 is used as a storage area such as the main memory and working area of the CPU 502. The memory 508 stores various data such as mask patterns and test patterns, which will be described later.

[0038] The control unit 100 is connected to an interface (I / F) 510, and is connected to a host device 110 via the I / F 510. The host device 110 outputs image data for recording, various commands, status signals, and the like to the control unit 100 via the I / F 510. The host device 110 may be capable of executing various processes required for recording, such as creating and processing image data.

[0039] The control unit 100 is connected to an operation unit 512 provided in the recording apparatus 10. The operation unit 512 is a group of switches that accept inputs from the user. In this embodiment, the operation unit 512 includes a power switch 514 for starting the recording apparatus 10, a recording start switch 516 that instructs the recording apparatus 10 to start recording, and a recovery switch 518 that instructs the head unit 24 to perform recovery processing. The recovery processing is a process performed by the recovery unit 542 to maintain and restore a good ejection state of the ink and reaction liquid from the ejection ports 32 of the head unit 24. The operation unit 512 also includes an adjustment switch 520 that performs adjustments to eliminate deviations in the ejection position of the reaction liquid. In this embodiment, the start of recording, the recovery processing, and the above adjustments are performed by switches on the operation unit 512, but this is not limited to this. For example, the above processes may be performed based on instructions from the host device 110 or various devices connected to the recording apparatus 10.

[0040] The control unit 100 is connected to a sensor unit 522 provided in the recording device 10. The sensor unit 522 is a group of sensors for detecting the status of the recording device 10, and includes an optical sensor 200, a photocoupler 524 for detecting the home position, and a temperature sensor 526 for detecting the temperature. The control unit 100 controls each sensor and executes various processes based on information from each sensor. For example, with respect to the optical sensor 200, the control unit 100 controls its drive and acquires the optical characteristics of the test pattern based on the output from the optical sensor 200. In this manner, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 and the optical sensor 200 function as a measurement unit capable of measuring the optical characteristics of the recorded material. Note that the sensor unit 522 is not limited to the above-described sensors, and may include various known sensors for detecting the status of the recording device 10.

[0041] The control unit 100 is connected to a head driver 528 and controls the driving of the head unit 24 via the head driver 528. The head unit 24 drives the heating resistor elements 530 of the ejection heads 42, 44 in accordance with the print data via the head driver 528 to control the ejection or non-ejection of ink or reaction liquid. The head driver 528 includes a shift register that aligns the print data to correspond to the positions of the heating resistor elements 530, a latch circuit that latches the data at appropriate timing, and a logic circuit element that activates the heating resistor elements 530 in synchronization with a drive timing signal. The ejection heads 42, 44 are provided with sub-heaters 532, the drive of which is controlled by the control unit 100 via the head driver 528. The sub-heater 532 adjusts the temperature to stabilize the ink ejection characteristics, and is attached to the ejection head substrate or the ejection heads 42, 44 together with the heating resistor elements 530.

[0042] The control unit 100 is connected to a first motor driver 534 and controls the driving of a scanning motor 536 via the first motor driver 534, which displaces the head unit 24 in the X direction. The control unit 100 is also connected to a second motor driver 538 and controls the conveyance motor 540 via the second motor driver 538, which displaces the recording medium P in the Y direction using the conveyance roller 23. The control unit 100 is also connected to a recovery unit 542 and controls the driving of the recovery unit 542. The control unit 100 is also connected to a heating unit 16 and controls the driving of the heating unit 16.

[0043] In the control unit 100, the CPU 502 converts image data input from the host device 110 into print data and stores it in the RAM 506. Specifically, when the CPU 502 acquires image data represented by 8-bit, 256-value information (0 to 255) for each of RGB, it converts this image data into multi-value data represented by the multiple types of ink (K, C, M, and Y in this embodiment) used for printing. This color conversion process generates multi-value data represented by 8-bit, 256-value information (0 to 255) that represents the gradation of each ink of K, C, M, and Y in each pixel group made up of multiple pixels.

[0044] Next, the multi-value data represented by K, C, M, and Y is quantized to generate quantized data (binary data) represented by 1-bit binary information (0, 1) that determines whether or not to eject each of the K, C, M, and Y inks for each pixel. This quantization process can be performed using various known quantization methods, such as error diffusion, dithering, and indexing. A distribution process is then performed to distribute the quantized data across multiple scans of the head unit 24 across a unit area. This distribution process generates print data represented by 1-bit binary information (0, 1) that determines whether or not to eject each of the K, C, M, and Y inks for each pixel during each of the multiple scans across the unit area of the print medium P. This distribution process corresponds to multiple scans and is performed using a mask pattern that determines whether or not to eject ink for each pixel. Note that the generation of this print data does not necessarily have to be performed by the control unit 100; it may also be performed by the host device 110, or some of the processing may be performed by the host device 110 and the remaining processing may be performed by the control unit 100.

[0045] <Acquisition process> In the above configuration, the recording device 10 performs a recording process in which recording is performed on the recording medium P based on recording data. In this recording process, the head unit 24 moves in the X direction while ejecting ink and reaction liquid, thereby performing recording on a unit area on the recording medium. During this recording, a predetermined amount of ink and reaction liquid are each ejected into the same area. This ensures that the reaction liquid comes into contact with the ink at a constant rate, thereby suppressing ink bleeding, which occurs particularly noticeably on non-absorbent recording media. In addition, in the recording device 10, the recording medium P onto which the ink and reaction liquid have been ejected is transported and passes through the heating unit 16, which heats and dries the ink and promotes ink fixation even on non-absorbent or poorly absorbent recording media, thereby performing recording.

[0046] As described above, the recording device 10 needs to eject ink and reaction liquid onto the same region. Therefore, the recording device 10 is configured to acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the X direction, and correct the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink based on the acquired amount of deviation. In this embodiment, the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the X direction" is also referred to as the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid." The acquisition process for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink is started, for example, by operating the adjustment switch 520 on the operation unit 512. The recording device 10 corrects the ejection position of the ink and the ejection position of the reaction liquid so that they coincide with each other, based on the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid acquired in this acquisition process.

[0047] The acquisition process executed by the recording device 10 to acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the X direction, and the test pattern used in this acquisition process will be described in detail below.

[0048] =Test Pattern= First, the test pattern used in the acquisition process will be described. FIG. 6 shows the test pattern used in the acquisition process, and in FIG. 6, it is shown corresponding to the head unit that ejects ink and reaction liquid. FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing the configuration pattern of the first detection pattern of the test pattern, and FIG. 7(b) is a diagram showing the configuration pattern of the second detection pattern of the test pattern. FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining bleeding that occurs in the fourth pattern of FIG. 7(b), where (a) shows a state in which bleeding occurs without using reaction liquid, and (b) shows a state in which bleeding does not occur by using reaction liquid.

[0049] The test pattern 60 used in the acquisition process includes a first detection pattern 62 for detecting the ink ejection position in the X direction and a second detection pattern 64 for detecting the reaction liquid ejection position in the X direction (see FIG. 6). The first detection pattern 62 is a pattern for acquiring the ink ejection position and is a reference pattern used as a reference when acquiring the amount of deviation in the reaction liquid ejection position. The second detection pattern 64 is a pattern for acquiring the reaction liquid ejection position and is a pattern compared with the first detection pattern 62 to acquire the amount of deviation in the reaction liquid ejection position.

[0050] The first detection pattern 62 and the second detection pattern 64 are configured so that their lengths in the X direction and the Y direction are the same. The second detection pattern 64 is positioned upstream of the first detection pattern 62 in the +Y direction, with a predetermined distance G therebetween. In this embodiment, the predetermined distance G is the same as the lengths of the first detection pattern 62 and the second detection pattern 64 in the Y direction. The predetermined distance G is not limited to this and may be longer or shorter than the length of the first detection pattern 62 in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the second detection pattern 64 is formed upstream of the first detection pattern 62 in the +Y direction, but this is not limited thereto and the second detection pattern 64 may be formed downstream of the first detection pattern 62 in the +Y direction. Alternatively, the second detection pattern 64 may be formed so as to coincide in the Y direction and be side by side along the X direction.

[0051] The test pattern 60 is printed by a single movement (scan) of the head unit 24 in the +X direction. That is, the first detection pattern 62 is formed by ejecting ink and reaction liquid from a plurality of ejection ports 32 in the ejection port arrays 46 of the ejection heads 42, 44. The second detection pattern 64 is formed by ejecting ink and reaction liquid from a plurality of ejection ports 32 located upstream in the +Y direction from the ejection ports 32 used in the first detection pattern 62.

[0052] The first detection pattern 62 is composed of a first pattern 72 for ejecting reaction liquid and a second pattern 74 for ejecting K ink (see FIG. 7(a)). The first pattern 72 and the second pattern 74 each have a length L1 in the X direction and a length L2 in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the length L1 is the length obtained by printing 1080 dots at a resolution of 1200 dpi. The length L2 is the length obtained by printing 180 dots at a resolution of 1200 dpi.

[0053] The first pattern 72 is a pattern in which the reaction liquid is ejected at a resolution of 1200 dpi across the entire area. That is, in the first pattern 72, the reaction liquid is ejected so that one dot is placed at each pixel in a 1200 dpi x 1200 dpi grid across the entire area. Therefore, in the first pattern 72, the reaction liquid is ejected from 180 consecutive ejection ports 32 in the ejection port array 46RCT so that 1080 dots are printed in the X direction at a resolution of 1200 dpi from the printing start position. In the following description, the position where the Mth dot is printed will be represented as Mdot / 1200 dpi. Therefore, in the first pattern 72, the reaction liquid is ejected in the X direction from 1 dot / 1200 dpi, where the first dot is printed at the printing start position, to 1080 dot / 1200 dpi, where the 1080th dot is printed.

[0054] The second pattern 74 has a non-discharge region where K ink is not discharged formed in the upstream half in the +X direction, and a discharge region where K ink is discharged formed in the downstream half in the +X direction. That is, the second pattern 74 is a pattern in which K ink is discharged at a resolution of 1200 dpi to the downstream half of the region in the +X direction. That is, in the second pattern 74, K ink is discharged from the center position of the second pattern 74 in the X direction from 180 consecutive discharge ports 32 in the discharge port array 46K so as to record 540 dots in the X direction at a resolution of 1200 dpi. Therefore, in the second pattern 74, K ink is discharged in a region in the X direction ranging from 541 dots / 1200 dpi to 1080 dots / 1200 dpi. It should be noted that the discharge areas of the 180 discharge ports 32 used to record the second pattern 74 overlap in the Y direction with the discharge areas of the 180 discharge ports 32 used to record the first pattern 72. In other words, the first pattern 72 and the second pattern 74 are discharged onto the same area on the recording medium P to form the first detection pattern 62.

[0055] The second detection pattern 64 is composed of a third pattern 76 for ejecting reaction liquid and a fourth pattern 78 for ejecting K ink and Y ink (see FIG. 7(b)). The third pattern 76 and the fourth pattern 78 each have a length L1 in the X direction and a length L2 in the Y direction, and are the same size as the first pattern 72 and the second pattern 74.

[0056] The third pattern 76 has a non-ejection region where reaction liquid is not ejected in the upstream half in the +X direction, and a ejection region where reaction liquid is ejected in the downstream half in the +X direction. That is, the third pattern 76 is a pattern in which reaction liquid is ejected at a resolution of 1200 dpi to the downstream half in the +X direction. That is, in the third pattern 76, reaction liquid is ejected from the center position of the third pattern 76 in the X direction from 180 consecutive ejection ports 32 in the ejection port array 46RCT so as to record 540 dots in the X direction at a resolution of 1200 dpi. Therefore, in the third pattern 76, reaction liquid is ejected in an area ranging from 541 dots / 1200 dpi to 1080 dots / 1200 dpi in the X direction.

[0057] The 180 consecutive outlets 32 used to print the third pattern 76 are located upstream in the +Y direction of the 180 consecutive outlets 32 used to print the first pattern 72. In this embodiment, the outlet 32 located most downstream in the +Y direction of the 180 outlets 32 used to print the third pattern 76 is separated by 180 outlets from the outlet 32 located most upstream in the +Y direction of the 180 consecutive outlets 32 used to print the first pattern 72.

[0058] The fourth pattern 78 is a pattern in which K ink and Y ink printing areas are alternately printed in the Y direction across the entire area so that they are adjacent to each other. Both the K ink and the Y ink are printed at a resolution of 1200 dpi in each printing area. The K ink printing area and the Y ink printing area both have a length L3 in the Y direction. In the fourth pattern 78, the length L3 is smaller than half the length L2 so that multiple ejection areas for the K ink and the Y ink are formed. In this embodiment, the length L3 is 20 dots at a resolution of 1200 dpi. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fourth pattern 78 has five Y ink printing areas and four K ink printing areas. Note that the 180 consecutive ejection openings 32 used to print the fourth pattern 78 are ejection openings 32 that can eject ink to ejection areas that coincide in the Y direction with the ejection areas of the 180 consecutive ejection openings 32 used to print the third pattern 76. That is, the third pattern 76 and the fourth pattern 78 are ejected onto the same region on the recording medium P, forming the second detection pattern 64.

[0059] The fourth pattern 78 is formed by ejecting K ink and Y ink from the ejection port array 46K and the ejection port array 46Y during one scan of the head unit 24 in the +X direction. Therefore, if the fourth pattern 78 is printed on a non-absorbent or poorly absorbent recording medium without using a reaction liquid, bleeding occurs at the boundary between the Y ink printing area 802 and the K ink printing area 804 (see FIG. 8A). In the bleeding area 806 where bleeding occurs, the high-lightness Y ink and the low-lightness K ink mix together, so the characteristics of the low-lightness K ink are more pronounced. In other words, in this case, the optical characteristics of the fourth pattern 78 become more similar to those of the K ink. On the other hand, if the fourth pattern 78 is printed on a non-absorbent or poorly absorbent recording medium after ejecting the reaction liquid, bleeding does not occur or is small at the boundary between the printing area 802 and the printing area 804 due to the characteristics of the reaction liquid. Therefore, in this case, there is no effect on the optical characteristics of the fourth pattern 78 (see FIG. 8(b)). In this way, the optical characteristics of the fourth pattern 78 change depending on whether or not a reaction liquid is used.

[0060] = Acquisition process = When the adjustment switch 520 is operated, the recording device 10 performs an acquisition process to acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the X direction. Then, based on the amount of deviation acquired in the acquisition process, a correction value for eliminating the deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is acquired, and the correction value is set to be used during the recording process.

[0061] The acquisition process will be described in detail below. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the acquisition process. FIG. 10(a) is a diagram showing a recorded first detection pattern, and FIG. 10(b) is a diagram showing a recorded second detection pattern. FIG. 11(a) is a diagram explaining measurement of the optical characteristics of the first detection pattern. FIG. 11(b) is a diagram showing changes in the optical characteristics of the first detection pattern in the X direction. FIG. 11(c) is a diagram explaining measurement of the optical characteristics of the second detection pattern. FIG. 11(d) is a diagram showing changes in the optical characteristics of the second detection pattern in the X direction.

[0062] The series of processes shown in the flowchart of Fig. 9 are performed by CPU 502 by loading program code stored in ROM 504 into RAM 506 and executing the program code. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in Fig. 9 may be performed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process indicates a step in the flowchart.

[0063] When the acquisition process starts, first, the CPU 502 records the test pattern 60 on the recording medium (S902). The memory 508 stores patterns for forming the test pattern 60, which are patterns that can record the first detection pattern 62 and the second detection pattern 64 with one scan of the head unit 24 in the +X direction. In S902, these patterns are used to record the test pattern 60 with the reaction liquid, K ink, and Y ink during one scan of the head unit 24 in the +X direction. In this way, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 including the CPU 502 functions as a control unit that controls the head unit 24 to record the test pattern.

[0064] 10A, in the recorded first detection pattern 62, only the reaction liquid is ejected in a region 1002 from 1 dot / 1200 dpi to 540 dots / 1200 dpi in the X direction. Furthermore, in a region 1004 from 541 dots / 1200 dpi to 1080 dots / 1200 dpi in the X direction, K ink is ejected together with the reaction liquid. The ejection port array 46RCT, which is made up of ejection ports 32 that eject the reaction liquid, is located downstream in the +X direction from the ejection port array 46K, which is made up of ejection ports 32 that eject K ink, and the ejection port array 46Y, which is made up of ejection ports 32 that eject Y ink (see FIG. 4). Therefore, in the first detection pattern 62 recorded in one scan in the +X direction, the reaction liquid is ejected over the entire region by the first pattern 72, and then K ink is ejected by the second pattern 74. This prevents bleeding from occurring at the boundary between the area 1002 and the area 1004 .

[0065] 10(b), in the stored second detection pattern 64, K ink and Y ink are ejected in an area 1006 from 1 dot / 1200 dpi to 540 dots / 1200 dpi in the X direction, and K ink and Y ink are ejected together with the reaction liquid in an area 1008 from 541 dots / 1200 dpi to 1080 dots / 1200 dpi in the X direction.

[0066] As described above, the ejection port array 46RCT is located downstream in the +X direction from the ejection port arrays 46K and 46Y. Therefore, in the second detection pattern 64 printed in one scan in the +X direction, K ink and Y ink are ejected without ejecting reaction liquid in the region 1006. Furthermore, in the region 1008, K ink and Y ink are ejected after the reaction liquid is ejected. Therefore, in the region 1006, a bleed region 806 occurs at the boundary between the printed region 802 printed by Y ink and the printed region 804 printed by K ink. Furthermore, in the region 1008, the presence of reaction liquid prevents the bleed region 806 from occurring at the boundary between the printed region 802 and the printed region 804. Furthermore, the presence of reaction liquid prevents bleed from occurring at the boundary between the region 1006 and the region 1008.

[0067] Returning to FIG. 9 , after recording the test pattern 60, the CPU 502 next measures the optical characteristics of the recorded test pattern 60 (S904). That is, in S904, the optical characteristics of the first detection pattern 62 and the second detection pattern 64 constituting the test pattern 60 are measured, respectively, to obtain the change in the optical characteristics in the X direction. Specifically, to measure the optical characteristics of the first detection pattern 62, the head unit 24 is first moved in the X direction to a position where the detection spot 310 of the optical sensor 200 overlaps the recording start position, i.e., 1 dot / 1200 dpi. The recording medium P is also transported to a position where the center of the detection spot 310 overlaps the center of the first detection pattern 62 in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the diameter of the detection spot is 3 mm, and the length in the Y direction of the first detection pattern 62 and the second detection pattern 64 is 3.8 mm (corresponding to 180 dots at a resolution of 1200 dpi). Thereafter, while scanning the head unit 24 in the +X direction, the optical sensor 200 measures the optical characteristics (optical reflectance) of the regions 1002 and 1004 at a predetermined interval, such as 2400 dpi (see FIG. 11(a)). Note that the control unit 100 associates the measurement results (optical reflectance) output from the optical sensor 200 with the measurement positions (encoder signal values) as the optical characteristics of the first detection pattern 62 in a storage area such as the memory 508.

[0068] Next, to measure the optical characteristics of the second detection pattern 64, the head unit 24 moves the optical sensor 200 to a position where the detection spot 310 of the optical sensor 200 overlaps the recording start position, i.e., 1 dot / 1200 dpi, in the X direction. The recording medium P is then transported to a position where the center of the detection spot 310 overlaps the center of the second detection pattern 64 in the Y direction. Then, while scanning the head unit 24 in the +X direction, the optical sensor 200 measures the optical characteristics of the regions 1006 and 1008, for example, at intervals of 2400 dpi (see FIG. 11(c)). The control unit 100 associates the measurement results (optical reflectance) output from the optical sensor 200 with the measurement position (encoder signal value) in a storage area such as the memory 508 as the optical characteristics of the second detection pattern 64. In this manner, in this embodiment, the control unit 100, including the CPU 502, functions as a control unit that controls the optical sensor 200 to measure the optical characteristics of the test pattern.

[0069] Returning to FIG. 9 . After measuring the optical characteristics of the test pattern 60, the CPU 502 next acquires a reference position corresponding to the ink ejection position that serves as a reference for acquiring the amount of deviation of the reaction liquid ejection position in the X direction (S906). In this embodiment, while scanning in the +X direction, the reaction liquid is ejected onto the entire area of the first detection pattern 62 in the X direction, and then, while scanning in the +X direction, K ink is ejected onto the downstream half of the area of the first detection pattern in the +X direction. Therefore, when a deviation occurs in the ejection position of the K ink in the X direction, the boundary between the area 1002 and the area 1004 also shifts in the X direction accordingly. Therefore, in S906, the boundary between the area 1002 and the area 1004 is acquired as the reference position based on the optical characteristics of the first detection pattern 62.

[0070] The measurement results of the first detection pattern 62 in S904 are as shown in FIG. 11(b). That is, in the region 1002 where only the reaction liquid is ejected, the optical reflectance is high based on the color of the recording medium. Then, as the head unit 24 moves in the +X direction and the overlap of the detection spot 310 with the region 1004 increases, the optical reflectance decreases due to the influence of the color expressed by the K ink. Furthermore, when the head unit 24 moves further in the +X direction and the entire detection spot 310 enters the region 1004, the optical reflectance becomes constant at a low value based on the color expressed by the K ink. Therefore, it can be seen that the boundary between the region 1002 and the region 1004 has an optical reflectance that is intermediate between the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1002 and the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1004.

[0071] For this reason, in S906, first, the optical characteristics (optical reflectance) of a measurement position 1102 set in advance on the region 1002 side are acquired, and an average value R1 of the acquired optical reflectances is obtained. The measurement position 1102 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the region 1002, specifically five points near 270 dots / 1200 dpi. Next, the optical reflectance of a measurement position 1104 set in advance on the region 1004 side is acquired, and an average value R2 of the acquired optical reflectances is obtained. The measurement position 1104 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the region 1004, specifically five points near 810 dots / 1200 dpi. Note that the optical reflectance at each measurement position is based on the measurement results measured in S904 stored in a storage area such as memory 508.

[0072] Then, the intermediate value between the average values R1 and R2 is calculated, and the position where the calculated intermediate value is obtained is acquired as the reference position 1110. The measurement positions in the first detection pattern 62 measured in S904 and the optical reflectances are stored in a storage area such as the memory 508 in association with each other. Therefore, by referring to the information stored in the storage area, the measurement position where the optical reflectance matches or is closest to (R1+R2) / 2, that is, the value obtained by dividing the sum of the average values R1 and R2 by 2, is acquired as the reference position 1110. The number of measurement positions 1102 and 1104 is not limited to five, and may be one to four, or six or more. Furthermore, the measurement position 1102 may be any position where the detection spot 310 is located only within the region 1002, and the measurement position 1104 may be any position where the detection spot 310 is located only within the region 1004.

[0073] Returning to FIG. 9 . After acquiring the reference position 1110, the CPU 502 next acquires a comparison position (S908) that corresponds to the ejection position of the reaction liquid and is to be compared with the reference position acquired in S906. In this embodiment, while scanning in the +X direction, the reaction liquid is ejected onto a half region on the downstream side of the +X direction of the second detection pattern 64 in the X direction, and the K ink and the Y ink are ejected onto the entire area of the second detection pattern 64 in the X direction. Therefore, when a deviation occurs in the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the X direction, the boundary between the region 1006 and the region 1008 also shifts in the X direction accordingly. Therefore, in S908, the boundary between the region 1006 and the region 1008 is acquired as the comparison position based on the optical characteristics of the second detection pattern 64.

[0074] The measurement results of the second detection pattern 64 in S904 are shown in FIG. 11(d). That is, in the region 1006 where the reaction liquid was not ejected and the pattern was formed by the K ink and the Y ink, a bleed region 806 occurs at the boundary between the Y ink-printed region 802 and the K ink-printed region 804, and the characteristics of the K ink are strongly exhibited, resulting in a low optical reflectance. As the head unit 24 moves in the +X direction, the overlap of the detection spot 310 with the region 1008 increases, and the optical reflectance increases due to the influence of the region 1008. Furthermore, when the head unit 24 moves further in the +X direction and the entire detection spot 310 enters the region 1008, the bleed region 806 disappears, the characteristics of the Y ink are exhibited, and the optical reflectance becomes constant at a high value. Therefore, it can be seen that the boundary between the region 1006 and the region 1008 has an optical reflectance that is intermediate between the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1006 and the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1008.

[0075] For this reason, in S908, first, the optical reflectance at a preset measurement position 1106 on the region 1006 side is acquired, and an average value R3 of the acquired optical reflectance is acquired. The measurement position 1106 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the region 1006, specifically five points near 270 dots / 1200 dpi. Next, the optical reflectance at a preset measurement position 1108 on the region 1008 side is acquired, and an average value R4 of the acquired optical reflectance is acquired. The measurement position 1108 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the acquired optical reflectance, specifically five points near 810 dots / 1200 dpi. The optical reflectance at each measurement position is based on the measurement results of S904 stored in a storage area such as memory 508.

[0076] Then, the intermediate value between the average values R3 and R4 is calculated, and the position where the calculated intermediate value is obtained is acquired as the comparison position 1112. The measurement positions in the second detection pattern 64 measured in S904 and the optical reflectances are stored in association with each other in a storage area such as the memory 508. Therefore, by referring to the information stored in the storage area, the measurement position where the optical reflectance matches or is closest to (R3 + R4) / 2, that is, the value obtained by dividing the sum of the average values R3 and R4 by 2, is acquired as the comparison position 1112. The number of measurement positions 1106 and 1108 is not limited to five, and may be one to four, or six or more. Furthermore, the measurement position 1106 may be any position where the detection spot 310 is located only within the region 1006, and the measurement position 1108 may be any position where the detection spot 310 is located only within the region 1008.

[0077] Returning to FIG. 9, after acquiring the comparison position 1112, the CPU 502 next acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the X direction based on the reference position 1110 and the comparison position 1112 (S910), and ends this acquisition process. In S910, the difference between the encoder signal value representing the reference position 1110 and the encoder signal value representing the comparison position 1112 is acquired, and the acquired value is used as the amount of deviation. In this way, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 including the CPU 502 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the optical characteristics of the detection patterns that make up the test pattern.

[0078] When the amount of deviation of the reaction liquid ejection position is acquired in the acquisition process, the control unit 100 calculates a correction value for correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation, for example, so that the ejection position of the reaction liquid coincides with the ejection position of the ink. Then, during the recording process of recording on the recording medium, the control unit 100 uses the calculated correction value to perform recording while correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid in the head unit 24. In this way, in this embodiment, the control unit 100 functions as a correction unit for correcting the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the acquired amount of deviation.

[0079] As described above, the recording apparatus 10 records a test pattern 60 including a first detection pattern 62 and a second detection pattern 64 extending in the X direction in order to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the X direction. When the first detection pattern 62 is divided into two in the X direction, which is the scanning direction during recording, a region 1002 onto which only the reaction liquid is ejected is formed in the upstream half in the +X direction, and a region 1004 onto which K ink is ejected onto the reaction liquid is formed in the downstream half in the +X direction. When the second detection pattern 64 is divided into two in the X direction, which is the scanning direction during recording, a region 1006 onto which no reaction liquid is ejected is formed in the upstream half in the +X direction, and K ink and Y ink are ejected alternately in the Y direction. Furthermore, a region 1008 onto which K ink and Y ink are ejected alternately in the Y direction onto the reaction liquid is formed in the downstream half in the +X direction.

[0080] Then, the optical sensor 200 acquires the change in optical reflectance in the X direction of the first detection pattern 62 and the second detection pattern 64. Then, based on this change, a reference position 1110, which is the ink ejection position, is acquired from the first detection pattern 62. Also, a comparison position 1112, which is the reaction liquid ejection position, is acquired from the second detection pattern 64. After that, based on the reference position 1110 and the comparison position 1112, the amount of deviation in the X direction of the reaction liquid ejection position relative to the ink ejection position is acquired.

[0081] As a result, even if the ejection head 42 that ejects ink and the ejection head 44 that ejects reaction liquid are configured separately, it is possible to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid using the test pattern 60. In other words, regardless of the configuration of the ejection head, it is possible to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the X direction using the test pattern 60.

[0082] (Second embodiment) Next, a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14. In the following description, components that are the same as or equivalent to those in the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment described above will be designated by the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0083] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction, which is the -X direction, relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction, which is the +X direction, is acquired. Therefore, in this embodiment, the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid" means the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction." Furthermore, the acquisition process executed by the recording apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is a process of acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction.

[0084] The recording device 10 of this embodiment is configured to be capable of bidirectional recording, in which recording is performed while scanning the head unit 24 in the forward direction, which is the +X direction, and recording is performed while scanning the head unit 24 in the backward direction, which is the -X direction.

[0085] =Test Pattern= First, a test pattern 60 used in the acquisition process executed by the recording device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 12(a) is a diagram showing the configuration pattern of the first detection pattern of the test pattern, and Fig. 12(b) is a diagram showing the configuration pattern of the second detection pattern of the test pattern.

[0086] In this embodiment, the first detection pattern 62 of the test pattern 60 is a pattern for acquiring the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction, and the second detection pattern 64 of the test pattern 60 is a pattern for acquiring the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the backward direction. The first detection pattern 62 is recorded by a single scan of the head unit 24 in the forward direction. That is, the first detection pattern 62 is formed by ejecting ink and reaction liquid in a single scan of the head unit 24 in the forward direction. The second detection pattern 64 is recorded by two scans of the head unit 24, one in the backward direction and one in the forward direction. That is, the second detection pattern 64 is formed by ejecting reaction liquid in a scan of the head unit 24 in the backward direction, and then ejecting ink in a subsequent scan of the head unit 24 in the forward direction.

[0087] The first detection pattern 62 is composed of a fifth pattern 1202 for ejecting reaction liquid and a sixth pattern 1204 for ejecting K ink and Y ink. The second detection pattern 64 is composed of a seventh pattern 1206 for ejecting reaction liquid and an eighth pattern 1208 for ejecting K ink and Y ink. The fifth pattern 1202 and the seventh pattern 1206 each match the third pattern 76 in the first embodiment. The sixth pattern 1204 and the eighth pattern 1208 each match the fourth pattern 78 in the first embodiment. Therefore, detailed descriptions of the configurations of the fifth pattern 1202, the sixth pattern 1204, the seventh pattern 1206, and the eighth pattern 1208 will be omitted.

[0088] Of the 180 outlets 32 used to print the fifth pattern 1202, the outlet 32 located most upstream in the +Y direction is separated by 180 outlets from the outlet 32 located most downstream in the +Y direction of the 180 outlets 32 used to print the seventh pattern 1206. Of the 180 outlets 32 used to print the sixth pattern 1204, the outlet 32 located most upstream in the +Y direction is separated by 180 outlets from the outlet 32 located most downstream in the +Y direction of the 180 outlets 32 used to print the eighth pattern 1208. Furthermore, the 180 outlets 32 used to print the fifth pattern 1202 and the sixth pattern 1204 can eject ink or reaction liquid to the same region during the same scan. Similarly, the 180 outlets 32 used to print the seventh pattern 1206 and the eighth pattern 1208 can eject ink or reaction liquid to the same region during the same scan.

[0089] = Acquisition process = When the adjustment switch 520 is operated, the recording device 10 performs an acquisition process to acquire the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the acquisition process executed by the recording device according to this embodiment. FIG. 14(a) is a diagram showing the recorded first detection pattern, and FIG. 14(b) is a diagram showing changes in optical properties in the X direction in the first detection pattern. FIG. 14(c) is a diagram showing the recorded second detection pattern, and FIG. 14(d) is a diagram showing changes in optical properties in the X direction in the second detection pattern.

[0090] The series of processes shown in the flowchart of Fig. 13 are performed by CPU 502 by loading program code stored in ROM 504 into RAM 506 and executing the program code. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in Fig. 13 may be performed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process indicates a step in the flowchart.

[0091] When the acquisition process starts, first, the CPU 502 records the test pattern 60 on the recording medium (S1302). In S1302, first, while scanning the head unit 24 in the forward direction from the recording start position, the fifth pattern 1202 ejects reaction liquid, and the sixth pattern 1204 ejects K ink and Y ink. That is, the reaction liquid is ejected onto the downstream half of the first detection pattern 62 in the +X direction, and the K ink and Y ink are ejected onto the entire first detection pattern 62. Therefore, a region 1402 where no reaction liquid is ejected but where the K ink and Y ink are ejected is formed in the upstream half of the first detection pattern 62 in the +X direction. Furthermore, a region 1404 where reaction liquid, K ink, and Y ink are ejected is formed in the remaining half of the first detection pattern 62 (see FIG. 14A). In the printed first detection pattern 62, in an area 1402 where no reaction liquid is ejected, a bleed area 806 occurs at the boundary between the Y ink printed area 802 and the K ink printed area 804. On the other hand, in the area 1404 where the reaction liquid is ejected, no bleed area 806 occurs.

[0092] Next, while scanning the head unit 24 in the backward direction from the position where recording of the first detection pattern 62 ended, the reaction liquid is ejected by the seventh pattern 1206. After that, while scanning the head unit 24 in the forward direction from the position where recording of the seventh pattern 1206 ended, i.e., the recording start position, the reaction liquid is ejected by the eighth pattern 1208. That is, the reaction liquid is ejected onto the downstream half of the second detection pattern 64 in the +X direction, and the K ink and the Y ink are ejected onto the entire area of the second detection pattern 64. Therefore, an area 1406 where the reaction liquid is not ejected but the K ink and the Y ink are ejected is formed in the upstream half of the second detection pattern 64 in the +X direction. Furthermore, an area 1408 where the reaction liquid, the K ink, and the Y ink are ejected is formed in the remaining half of the second detection pattern 64 (see FIG. 14(c)). In the printed second detection pattern 64, in an area 1406 where the reaction liquid is not ejected, a bleed area 806 occurs at the boundary between the Y ink printing area 802 and the K ink printing area 804. On the other hand, in an area 1408 where the reaction liquid is ejected, the bleed area 806 does not occur.

[0093] After the test pattern 60 is recorded, the CPU 502 then measures the optical characteristics of the recorded test pattern 60 (S1304). The specific processing content of S1304 is the same as that of S904 described above, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. After measuring the optical characteristics of the test pattern 60, the CPU 502 then acquires a reference position corresponding to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction, which serves as a reference (S1306).

[0094] In this embodiment, while scanning in the forward direction, reaction liquid is ejected onto a half region on the downstream side in the +X direction of the first detection pattern 62 in the X direction, and K ink and Y ink are ejected onto that onto the entire area of the first detection pattern 62 in the X direction. Therefore, when a deviation occurs in the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction, the boundary between the region 1402 and the region 1404 also shifts in the X direction in accordance with this deviation. Therefore, in S1306, the boundary between the region 1402 and the region 1404 is acquired as a reference position based on the gloss characteristics of the first detection pattern 62.

[0095] The measurement results of the first detection pattern 62 in S1304 are shown in FIG. 14(b). That is, in the region 1402 where the reaction liquid was not ejected and the pattern was formed by the K ink and the Y ink, a bleed region 806 occurs at the boundary between the Y ink-printed region 802 and the K ink-printed region 804, and the characteristics of the K ink are strongly exhibited, resulting in a low optical reflectance. Then, as the head unit 24 moves in the +X direction, the overlap of the detection spot 310 with the region 1404 increases, and the optical reflectance increases due to the influence of the region 1404. Furthermore, when the head unit 24 moves further in the +X direction and the entire detection spot 310 enters the region 1404, the bleed region 806 disappears, the characteristics of the Y ink are exhibited, and the optical reflectance becomes constant at a high value. Therefore, it can be seen that the boundary between the region 1402 and the region 1404 has an optical reflectance that is intermediate between the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1402 and the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1404.

[0096] For this reason, in S1306, first, the optical reflectance at a preset measurement position 1410 on the region 1402 side is acquired, and an average value R5 of the acquired optical reflectance is acquired. The measurement position 1410 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the region 1402, specifically five points near 270 dots / 1200 dpi. Next, the optical reflectance at a preset measurement position 1412 on the region 1404 side is acquired, and an average value R6 of the acquired optical reflectance is acquired. The measurement position 1412 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the acquired optical reflectance, specifically five points near 810 dots / 1200 dpi. The optical reflectance at each measurement position is based on the measurement results in S1304 stored in a storage area such as memory 508.

[0097] Thereafter, the intermediate value between the average values R5 and R6 is calculated, and the position at which the calculated intermediate value is obtained is acquired as the reference position 1420. The measurement positions in the first detection pattern 62 measured in S1304 and the optical reflectances are stored in association with each other in a storage area such as the memory 508. Therefore, by referring to the information stored in the storage area, the measurement position at which the optical reflectance matches or is closest to (R5+R6) / 2 is acquired as the reference position 1420. Note that the number of measurement positions 1410 and 1412 is not limited to five, and may be one to four, or six or more. Furthermore, the measurement position 1410 may be any position where the detection spot 310 is located only within the region 1402, and the measurement position 1412 may be any position where the detection spot 310 is located only within the region 1404.

[0098] Next, the CPU 502 acquires a comparison position (S1308) that corresponds to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the backward direction and is to be compared with the reference position acquired in S1306. In this embodiment, while scanning in the backward direction, the reaction liquid is ejected onto a half region on the downstream side of the second detection pattern 64 in the +X direction, and then while scanning in the forward direction, K ink and Y ink are ejected onto the entire area of the second detection pattern 64 in the X direction. Therefore, when a deviation occurs in the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the backward direction, the boundary between the region 1406 and the region 1408 also shifts in the X direction accordingly. Therefore, in S1308, the boundary between the region 1406 and the region 1408 is acquired as the comparison position based on the optical characteristics of the second detection pattern 64.

[0099] The measurement results of the second detection pattern 64 in S1304 are shown in FIG. 14(d). That is, in the region 1406 where the reaction liquid was not ejected and the pattern was formed by the K ink and the Y ink, a bleed region 806 occurs at the boundary between the Y ink-printed region 802 and the K ink-printed region 804, and the characteristics of the K ink are strongly exhibited, resulting in a low optical reflectance. As the head unit 24 moves in the +X direction, the overlap of the detection spot 310 with the region 1408 increases, and the optical reflectance increases due to the influence of the region 1408. Furthermore, when the head unit 24 moves further in the +X direction and the entire detection spot 310 enters the region 1408, the bleed region 806 disappears, the characteristics of the Y ink are exhibited, and the optical reflectance becomes constant at a high value. Therefore, it can be seen that the boundary between the region 1406 and the region 1408 has an optical reflectance that is intermediate between the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1406 and the optical reflectance when the entire detection spot 310 is located in the region 1408.

[0100] For this reason, in S1308, first, the optical reflectance at a preset measurement position 1414 on the region 1406 side is acquired, and an average value R7 of the acquired optical reflectance is acquired. The measurement position 1414 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the region 1406, specifically five points near 270 dots / 1200 dpi. Next, the optical reflectance at a preset measurement position 1416 on the region 1408 side is acquired, and an average value R8 of the acquired optical reflectance is acquired. The measurement position 1416 is, for example, the central position in the X direction of the acquired optical reflectance, specifically five points near 810 dots / 1200 dpi. The optical reflectance of each measured value is based on the measurement result in S1304 stored in a storage area such as memory 508.

[0101] Thereafter, the intermediate value between average values R7 and R8 is calculated, and the position where the calculated intermediate value is obtained is acquired as comparison position 1422. The measurement positions in second detection pattern 64 measured in S1304 and the optical reflectances are stored in association with each other in a storage area such as memory 508. Therefore, by referring to the information stored in the storage area, the measurement position where the optical reflectance matches or is closest to (R7+R8) / 2 is acquired as comparison position 1422. Note that the number of measurement positions 1414 and 1416 is not limited to five, and may be one to four, or six or more. Furthermore, measurement position 1414 may be any position where detection spot 310 is located only within region 1406, and measurement position 1416 may be any position where detection spot 310 is located only within region 1408.

[0102] After acquiring the comparison position 1422, the CPU 502 acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction based on the reference position 1420 and the comparison position 1422 (S1310), and ends this acquisition process. In S1310, the difference between the encoder signal value representing the reference position 1420 and the encoder signal value representing the comparison position 1422 is acquired, and the acquired difference is set as the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction.

[0103] When the deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is acquired in the acquisition process, the control unit 100 calculates a correction value for correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid in the backward direction based on the deviation amount so that the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the backward direction coincides with the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction. Then, during the recording process for recording on the recording medium, the control unit 100 uses the calculated correction value to perform recording while correcting the ejection timing of the reaction liquid in the head unit 24. Note that in the above description, the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the backward direction is corrected based on the acquired deviation amount, but this is not limited to this. In other words, the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction may be corrected, or both the ejection positions of the reaction liquid in the forward direction and the backward direction may be corrected.

[0104] As described above, in the recording device 10 according to the second embodiment, the first detection pattern 62 and the second detection pattern 64 are both patterns in which the reaction liquid is ejected onto a half of the area downstream in the +X direction, and K ink and Y ink are ejected onto the entire area in the +X direction. The first detection pattern 62 ejects the reaction liquid while scanning in the forward direction, and the second detection pattern 64 ejects the reaction liquid while scanning in the backward direction. Then, a reference position 1420 representing the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction is acquired based on the optical characteristics of the first detection pattern 62, and a comparison position 1422 representing the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the backward direction is acquired based on the optical characteristics of the second detection pattern 64. Then, based on the reference position 1420 and the comparison position 1422, the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the backward direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction is acquired.

[0105] As a result, even if the ejection head 42 that ejects ink and the ejection head 44 that ejects reaction liquid are configured separately, it is possible to obtain the amount of deviation in the ejection position of the reaction liquid using the test pattern 60. In other words, regardless of the configuration of the ejection head, it is possible to obtain the amount of deviation in the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction using the test pattern 60.

[0106] (Third embodiment) Next, a recording device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 15 to 18. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment will be used to denote components that are the same as or equivalent to those in the recording device according to the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0107] The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in a direction intersecting the scanning direction when ejecting the ink and reaction liquid is acquired. Therefore, in this embodiment, the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid" means the "amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the Y direction." Furthermore, the acquisition process executed by the recording apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is a process for acquiring the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the Y direction.

[0108] In the recording device 10 according to this embodiment, a rotary encoder (not shown) is provided on the conveyance roller 23, and the conveyance amount of the recording medium can be obtained according to the encoder signal value output from this rotary encoder. In other words, the recording device 10 is configured to be able to obtain position information in the Y direction based on this encoder signal value.

[0109] =Test Pattern= First, a test pattern 60 used in the acquisition process executed by the recording apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 15 shows the test pattern used in the acquisition process executed by the recording apparatus 10 according to this embodiment, and in Fig. 15, it is shown corresponding to the head unit that ejects ink and reaction liquid. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the constituent patterns of the detection patterns that make up the test pattern 60.

[0110] In this embodiment, the test pattern 60 includes a detection pattern 1500 for detecting the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the Y direction (see FIG. 15). That is, the detection pattern 1500 is a pattern for obtaining the amount of deviation in the Y direction of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the reference ejection position of the ink.

[0111] The test pattern 60 is printed by a single scan in the +X direction of the head unit 24. The detection pattern 1500 is a pattern obtained by rotating the second detection pattern 64 of the first embodiment by 90 degrees clockwise. Therefore, in this embodiment, the detection pattern 1500 is printed in an area ranging from 1 dot / 1200 dpi to 1080 dots / 1200 dpi in the Y direction and from 1 dot / 1200 dpi to 180 dots / 1200 dpi in the X direction.

[0112] The detection pattern 1500 is composed of a ninth pattern 1602 for ejecting reaction liquid and a tenth pattern 1604 for ejecting K ink and Y ink (see FIG. 16). The ninth pattern 1602 and the tenth pattern 1604 each have a length L2 in the X direction and a length L1 in the Y direction. The length L1 is the length obtained by recording 1080 dots at a resolution of 1200 dpi, and the length L2 is the length obtained by recording 180 dots at a resolution of 1200 dpi.

[0113] The ninth pattern 1602 has a non-ejection region in which reaction liquid is not ejected formed in the downstream half in the +Y direction, and a ejection region in which reaction liquid is ejected formed in the downstream half in the +Y direction. That is, the ninth pattern 1602 is a pattern in which reaction liquid is ejected at a resolution of 1200 dpi to the upstream half of the region in the +Y direction. Therefore, in the ninth pattern 1602, reaction liquid is ejected so as to be printed at a resolution of 1200 dpi from the 540 ejection ports 32 located on the upstream side in the +Y direction of the ejection port array 46RCT. In other words, the ninth pattern 1602 is printed using the 540 ejection ports 32 located on the upstream side in the +Y direction of the 1080 ejection ports 32 in the ejection port array 46RCT.

[0114] The tenth pattern 1604 is a pattern in which K ink and Y ink print areas are alternately printed in the X direction so that they are adjacent to each other across the entire area. Both the K ink and the Y ink are printed at a resolution of 1200 dpi in each print area. The length L3 in the X direction of the K ink print area and the Y ink print area is smaller than half the length L2 so that multiple K ink print areas are formed in the tenth pattern 1604. In this embodiment, the length L3 is 20 dots long at a resolution of 1200 dpi. Therefore, in this embodiment, the tenth pattern 1604 includes five Y ink print areas and four K ink print areas. In the tenth pattern 1604, K ink is ejected from all of the ejection openings 32 in the ejection opening array 46K so as to print at a resolution of 1200 dpi, and Y ink is ejected from all of the ejection openings 32 in the ejection opening array 46Y so as to print at a resolution of 1200 dpi.

[0115] = Acquisition process = When the adjustment switch 520 is operated, the recording apparatus 10 performs an acquisition process to acquire the amount of deviation in the Y direction of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink. Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing a detailed processing routine of the acquisition process executed by the recording apparatus according to this embodiment. Fig. 18(a) is a diagram showing the recorded detection pattern, and Fig. 18(b) is a diagram showing the change in optical characteristics in the Y direction in the detection pattern of Fig. 18(a).

[0116] The series of processes shown in the flowchart of Fig. 17 are performed by CPU 502 by loading program code stored in ROM 504 into RAM 506 and executing the program code. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in Fig. 17 may be performed by hardware such as an ASIC or an electric circuit. Note that the symbol S in the description of each process indicates a step in the flowchart.

[0117] When the acquisition process starts, first, the CPU 502 records the test pattern 60 on the recording medium (S1702). The memory 508 stores patterns for forming the test pattern 60, which are patterns that can record the detection pattern 1500 with one scan of the head unit 24 in the +X direction. In S1702, these patterns are used to record the test pattern 60 (detection pattern 1500) with the reaction liquid and the K ink and Y ink during one scan of the head unit 24 in the +X direction.

[0118] As shown in FIG. 18A, in the recorded detection pattern 1500, K ink and Y ink are ejected together with the reaction liquid in an area 1802, which is the upstream half in the +Y direction. Furthermore, K ink and Y ink are ejected in an area 1804, which is the downstream half in the +Y direction. In the head unit 24, as shown in FIG. 4, the ejection opening array 46RCT is located downstream in the +X direction from the ejection opening arrays 46K and 46Y. Therefore, in the detection pattern 1500 recorded in one scan in the +X direction, the reaction liquid is ejected in the area 1802, followed by the ejection of K ink and Y ink. Furthermore, in the area 1804, the K ink and Y ink are ejected without ejecting the reaction liquid. Therefore, in the area 1804, a bleeding area occurs at the boundary between the area printed by Y ink and the area printed by K ink, but in the area 1802, no bleeding area occurs at the boundary. Furthermore, due to the presence of the reaction liquid, no bleeding occurs at the boundary between the region 1802 and the region 1804 .

[0119] After recording the test pattern 60, the CPU 502 then measures the optical characteristics of the recorded test pattern 60 (S1704). optics The characteristics are measured to obtain the change in the optical characteristics in the Y direction. Specifically, first, the head unit 24 is moved to a position where the center of the detection spot 310 of the optical sensor 200 overlaps with the center of the detection pattern 1500 in the Y direction. Then, the recording medium P is transported to a position where the detection spot 310 overlaps with the downstream end of the detection pattern 1500 in the +Y direction. -YWhile conveying the sheet in the direction, the optical sensor 200 measures the optical characteristics (optical reflectance) of the region 1802 and the region 1804 at intervals of, for example, 2400 dpi. The measurement results are stored in a storage area together with the measurement positions. The position information at this time is the encoder signal value of a rotary encoder provided on the conveying roller 23.

[0120] After measuring the optical characteristics of the test pattern 60, the CPU 502 next acquires a comparison position, which corresponds to the ejection position of the reaction liquid and is to be compared with the reference position (S1706). In this embodiment, while scanning in the +X direction, the reaction liquid is ejected onto the upstream half of the detection pattern 1500 in the +Y direction, and then K ink and Y ink are ejected onto the entire area of the detection pattern 1500. Therefore, when a deviation occurs in the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the Y direction, the boundary between the region 1802 and the region 1804 also shifts in the Y direction accordingly. Therefore, in S1706, the boundary between the region 1802 and the region 1804 is acquired as the comparison position based on the optical characteristics of the detection pattern 1500.

[0121] The measurement result of the detection pattern 1500 in S1704 is as shown in FIG. 18(b). That is, in the region 1804 where the reaction liquid is not ejected and the pattern is formed by K ink and Y ink, a bleeding region occurs at the boundary between the region printed by Y ink and the region printed by K ink, and the characteristics of the K ink are strongly expressed, resulting in a low optical reflectance. -Y By moving in the direction, the area of the detection spot 310 1802 As the overlap with increases, the area 1802 The optical reflectance increases due to the influence of the recording medium P. -Y Further movement in the direction will cause the entire detection spot 310 to cover the area 1802 When the detection spot 310 enters region 1802, the bleeding region disappears, the characteristics of the Y ink appear, and the optical reflectance becomes constant at a high value. Therefore, it can be seen that the boundary between region 1802 and region 1804 is such that the entire detection spot 310 has an optical reflectance that is intermediate between the optical reflectance when the detection spot 310 is located in region 1802 and the optical reflectance when the detection spot 310 is located in region 1804.

[0122] Therefore, in S1706, first, the area 1804 The optical reflectance at a measurement position 1806 set in advance on the side is acquired, and the average value R9 of the acquired optical reflectance is acquired. 1804 Next, let us consider five points near the center position in the Y direction. 1802 Pre-set measurement position on the side 1818 The optical reflectance of the sample is measured and the average value R10 of the measured optical reflectance is calculated. 1818 As for In area 1802 The five points are located near the center in the Y direction. The optical reflectance at each measurement position is based on the measurement result of step S1704 stored in a storage area such as the memory 508.

[0123] Thereafter, the median value between the average values R9 and R10 is calculated, and the position at which the calculated median value is obtained is acquired as the comparison position 1810. The measurement position in the detection pattern 1500 measured in S1704 and the optical reflectance are stored in association with each other in a storage area such as the memory 508. Therefore, by referring to the information stored in the storage area, it is possible to determine whether the optical reflectance matches (R9+R10) / 2 or most The approximate measurement position is acquired as a comparison position 1810. 1818 The number of measurement positions 1806 is not limited to five, but may be one to four, or six or more. 1804 Any position within the measurement area is acceptable. 1818 The detection spot 310 is in the region 1802 Any position that is located only within the

[0124] After acquiring the comparison position, the CPU 502 acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the Y direction based on a preset reference position and the comparison position 1810 (S1708), and ends this acquisition process. In this embodiment, the encoder signal from the rotary encoder provided on the transport roller 23 is synchronized in advance with the position of each ejection port 32 of the ejection port array 46 extending in the Y direction. Therefore, the encoder signal value corresponding to the ejection port 32 at the center position in the Y direction of the detection pattern 1500 (541 dots / 1200 dpi in this embodiment) is set as the reference position. Therefore, in S1708, the difference between the encoder signal value representing the preset reference position and the encoder signal value representing the comparison position 1810 is acquired as the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the Y reaction liquid.

[0125] When the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid is acquired in the acquisition process, the control unit 100 corrects the position of the ejection port that ejects the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation so that the ejection position of the reaction liquid coincides with the ejection position of the ink. Then, during the recording process of recording on the recording medium, the control unit 100 performs recording while adjusting the ejection port that ejects the reaction liquid based on the corrected value.

[0126] As described above, the recording apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment records a test pattern 60 including a detection pattern 1500 extending in the Y direction to obtain the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the Y direction. When the detection pattern 1500 is divided into two in the Y direction, an area 1802 onto which K ink and Y ink are ejected together with the reaction liquid is formed in the upstream half in the +Y direction. Furthermore, an area 1804 onto which K ink and Y ink are ejected without ejecting the reaction liquid is formed in the downstream half in the +Y direction. The optical sensor 200 then obtains a change in the optical reflectance of the detection pattern 1500 in the Y direction. Based on this change, a comparison position 1810, which is the ejection position of the reaction liquid, is obtained. Then, based on a preset reference position and the comparison position 1810, the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink in the Y direction is obtained.

[0127] This makes it possible to obtain the amount of deviation in the Y direction of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection position of the ink using the test pattern 60 made up of the detection pattern 1500, regardless of the configuration of the ejection head.

[0128] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment may be modified as shown in the following (1) to (11).

[0129] (1) In the above embodiments, the fourth pattern 78, the sixth pattern 1204, the eighth pattern 1208, and the tenth pattern 1604 are configured with two colors of ink, K ink and Y ink, but this is not limited thereto. Various known inks can be used as the two colors of ink. However, it is preferable to use two colors of ink with a predetermined difference or more in optical properties. Alternatively, three or more colors of ink may be used. In the above embodiments, the fourth pattern 78, the sixth pattern 1204, the eighth pattern 1208, and the tenth pattern 1604 are configured as ruled line patterns in which ejection regions of two colors of ink extend in a predetermined direction and are alternately arranged in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. However, this is not limited thereto. Any geometric pattern in which different inks are adjacent may be used. For example, a checkerboard pattern (houndstooth pattern) in which a grid of one ink and a grid of the other ink are alternately arranged, as shown in FIG. 19, may be used.

[0130] (2) In the first embodiment, the reference position 1110 is acquired using the first detection pattern 62, but this is not limiting. The X-axis position based on the encoder signal may be synchronized with the K ink landing position in advance, and the encoder signal value for ejecting K ink at 541 dots / 1200 dpi in the X-axis may be set as the reference signal. In the third embodiment, the reference position is set in advance, but this is not limiting. As in the first embodiment, a detection pattern for acquiring the reference position may be recorded, and the reference position may be acquired based on the optical characteristics of the detection pattern. For example, the detection pattern for acquiring the reference position may be a pattern obtained by rotating the first detection pattern 62 in the first embodiment by 90 degrees clockwise.

[0131] (3) Although not specifically mentioned in the above embodiment, the reaction liquid used does not contain a coloring material, but a reaction liquid containing a coloring material may be used as long as it does not affect the image quality. Also, although not specifically mentioned in the above embodiment, the ejection heads 42 and 44 may employ various known ink ejection methods, such as a thermal method in which ink is ejected using an electrothermal conversion element, or a piezo method in which ink is ejected using a piezo element.

[0132] (4) In the above embodiment, the control unit 100 of the recording device executes the acquisition process and corrects the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the acquired amount of deviation, but this is not limited to this. For example, a device provided separately from the recording device 10, such as the host device 110, may control the recording device 10 to execute the acquisition process, and the device or the control unit 100 may correct the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation acquired in the acquisition process. Also, while the ejection position of the reaction liquid is corrected based on the amount of deviation acquired in the acquisition process, this is not limited to this. The ejection position of the ink may be corrected, or the ejection positions of the ink and the reaction liquid may be corrected.

[0133] (5) Although not specifically described in the above embodiment, the fourth pattern 78, the sixth pattern 1204, the eighth pattern 1208, and the tenth pattern 1604 may each be prepared as a plurality of patterns with different lengths L3 of the shorter side of the K ink and Y ink printing areas. The degree of ink bleeding varies depending on the liquid absorbency of the recording medium. Therefore, one of the prepared patterns may be selected depending on the absorbency of the recording medium. Specifically, the length L3 is made shorter for a recording medium that is less susceptible to bleeding, i.e., the higher the absorbency of the recording medium, and the length L3 is made longer for a recording medium that is more susceptible to bleeding, i.e., the lower the absorbency of the recording medium. Note that when the pattern shown in FIG. 19 is used as the fourth pattern 78, the size of each grid changes depending on the absorbency of the recording medium. Specifically, the lower the absorbency of the recording medium, the longer the length of one side of the grid. Conversely, the higher the absorbency of the recording medium, the shorter the length of one side of the grid.

[0134] (6) Although not specifically mentioned in the above embodiment, the length of the contact area between the K ink ejection area and the Y ink ejection area within the detection spot 310 is L / 4 or more, where L is the outer periphery of the detection spot 310. 2 The length of the contact portion is the sum of the lengths of the boundary portions between the K ink ejection region and the Y ink ejection region, located within the detection spot 310. Although not specifically mentioned in the above embodiment, the light source color of the light-emitting unit 302 realized by the visible LED of the optical sensor 200 is preferably a light source color that easily absorbs light 306 and has a small amount of reflected light for the color of the ink ejected (excluding K ink). For example, a red visible LED is preferable for Y ink.

[0135] (7) In the above embodiment, both the ink and the reaction liquid in the test pattern 60 are recorded at a resolution of 1200 dpi, but this is not limited to this. Since the reaction liquid only needs to be able to prevent the ink ejected onto it from bleeding, the reaction liquid may be recorded at a resolution lower than the resolution of the ink, i.e., ejected in a smaller amount than the ink. Furthermore, since the ink is caused to bleed on the recording medium in the absence of reaction liquid, the resolution may be higher or lower than 1200 dpi.

[0136] (8) In the above embodiment, the third pattern 76, the fifth pattern 1202, the seventh pattern 1206, and the ninth pattern 1602 are formed by ejection regions onto which the reaction liquid is ejected and non-ejection regions onto which the reaction liquid is not ejected. However, this is not limited to this. In each detection pattern using the above four patterns, it is sufficient that a density difference due to bleeding occurs between the portions where the ejection regions are located and the portions where the non-ejection regions are located. Therefore, the non-ejection regions of the above four patterns may be low-ejection regions onto which a small amount of reaction liquid is ejected, so that bleeding occurs between the portions where the ejection regions are located and the portions where the non-ejection regions are located in the detection pattern. The amount of reaction liquid ejected onto the low-ejection regions is, for example, three-quarters or less (3 / 4 times or less) of the amount ejected onto the ejection regions. The amount of reaction liquid ejected onto the low-ejection regions is set appropriately depending on the characteristics of the ink and reaction liquid used.

[0137] (9) In the first and third embodiments described above, the recording device 10 is described as a so-called serial scan type recording device that performs a recording operation of ejecting ink and reaction liquid while scanning in the X direction and a transport operation of transporting the recording medium P in the Y direction. However, the recording device according to this embodiment is not limited to this. In other words, the recording device 10 may be a so-called full line type recording device that performs recording by ejecting ink and reaction liquid from an ejection head in which ejection openings are arranged across the recording area of the recording medium P onto the recording medium being transported in a direction intersecting the direction in which the ejection openings are arranged.

[0138] (10) Although not specifically mentioned in the above embodiment, the recording device 10 may be configured to selectively execute the acquisition process in each of the above embodiments. Although not specifically mentioned in the above embodiment, various known techniques can be applied to the method of correcting the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation acquired by the acquisition process.

[0139] (11) The above embodiment and the various aspects shown in (1) to (10) may be combined as appropriate. The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above embodiment to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0140] 10 Recording Device 24 Head Unit 100 control section

Claims

1. a recording means for ejecting onto a recording medium a plurality of inks made of different materials and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks; a measuring means capable of measuring the optical characteristics of a recorded matter; a control means for controlling the recording means to record a test pattern using at least two of the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid, causing bleeding between the at least two inks, and for controlling the measurement means to measure optical characteristics of the recorded test pattern; an acquisition unit that acquires a deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the optical characteristics of the test pattern measured by the measurement unit, and the recording device corrects the deviation amount and records the test pattern, the test pattern includes a detection pattern that extends in a predetermined direction and, when divided into two in the predetermined direction, has one region onto which the at least two inks and the reaction liquid are ejected, and the other region onto which only the at least two inks, or the at least two inks and a smaller amount of the reaction liquid than that of the one region, are ejected; The detection pattern is a first pattern including a discharge region in one region to which only the reaction liquid is discharged, and a non-discharge region in the other region to which neither the reaction liquid nor the plurality of inks are discharged; a second pattern in which ejection regions to which one ink of two of the plurality of inks is ejected and ejection regions to which the other ink is ejected are alternately arranged in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction across the entire area in the predetermined direction, The recording device is characterized in that the acquisition means acquires the boundary between the one area and the other area based on the optical characteristics of the detection pattern, and acquires the amount of deviation in the specified direction based on the acquired boundary.

2. the recording means has an array of ejection ports for ejecting the inks and the reaction liquid; 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction is a direction intersecting with the direction in which the ejection ports are arranged.

3. the recording means has an array of ejection ports for ejecting the inks and the reaction liquid; 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined direction coincides with the direction in which the ejection ports are arranged.

4. The recording device described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the acquisition means acquires the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the optical characteristics of the detection pattern, and acquires the amount of deviation of the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection positions of the multiple inks in the specified direction as the amount of deviation, depending on the ejection position of the reaction liquid relative to the ejection positions of the multiple inks.

5. the recording means performs recording by ejecting the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid while reciprocating in the predetermined direction relative to a recording medium; the test pattern is composed of two of the detection patterns, The control means ejecting the reaction liquid while moving the recording means in a forward direction in the predetermined direction based on the first pattern, and then ejecting the two inks while moving the recording means in the forward direction based on the second pattern to record one of the detection patterns; ejecting the reaction liquid while moving the recording means in a return direction in the predetermined direction based on the first pattern, and then ejecting the two inks while moving the recording means in the forward direction based on the second pattern to record the other detection pattern; The acquisition means acquiring a boundary between the one region and the other region in the one detection pattern based on an optical characteristic of the one detection pattern, and acquiring a discharge position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction according to the acquired boundary; acquiring a boundary between the one region and the other region in the other detection pattern based on an optical characteristic of the other detection pattern, and acquiring a discharge position of the reaction liquid in the return direction according to the acquired boundary; 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the deviation amount is a deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the return direction relative to the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the forward direction.

6. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second pattern has a length of the ejection areas of the two inks in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction that changes depending on the absorbency of the recording medium.

7. When the outer periphery of the detection range in which the optical characteristics are detected by the measuring means is L, the length of the contact area between the ejection area of one ink and the ejection area of the other ink within the detection range is L / 4 or more, 2 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording speed is 1 / 12 or less.

8. A recording means for ejecting onto a recording medium a plurality of inks made of different materials and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks; a measuring means capable of measuring the optical characteristics of a recorded matter; a control means for controlling the recording means to record a test pattern using at least two of the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid, causing bleeding between the at least two inks, and for controlling the measurement means to measure optical characteristics of the recorded test pattern; an acquisition unit that acquires a deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the optical characteristics of the test pattern measured by the measurement unit, and the recording device corrects the deviation amount and records the test pattern, the test pattern includes a detection pattern that extends in a predetermined direction and, when divided into two in the predetermined direction, has one region onto which the at least two inks and the reaction liquid are ejected, and the other region onto which only the at least two inks, or the at least two inks and a smaller amount of the reaction liquid than that of the one region, are ejected; The detection pattern is a first pattern including a discharge region in one region to which only the reaction liquid is discharged, and a non-discharge region in the other region to which neither the reaction liquid nor the plurality of inks are discharged; a second pattern in which a checkerboard pattern is formed over the entire area in the predetermined direction by a grid of one ink and a grid of the other ink of two of the plurality of inks, The recording device is characterized in that the acquisition means acquires the boundary between the one area and the other area based on the optical characteristics of the detection pattern, and acquires the amount of deviation in the specified direction based on the acquired boundary.

9. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the size of the grid of the second pattern changes depending on the absorbency of the recording medium.

10. A recording device described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the acquisition means acquires the boundary between the one area and the other area as the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the optical characteristics of the one area and the optical characteristics of the other area of the detection pattern.

11. the optical characteristic in the one region is a first optical characteristic measured at a measurement position where a detection range for detecting the optical characteristic in the measurement means is located only within the one region, 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the optical characteristic in the other region is a second optical characteristic measured at a measurement position where the detection range is located only in the other region.

12. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the first optical characteristic and the second optical characteristic are average values of optical characteristics measured at a plurality of measurement positions.

13. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the boundary is a position that indicates an optical characteristic that matches or is close to a value obtained by dividing the sum of the first optical characteristic and the second optical characteristic by two.

14. 14. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit that corrects at least one of the ejection positions of the plurality of inks and the ejection position of the reaction liquid based on the amount of deviation.

15. 15. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink used for the detection pattern includes black ink.

16. 16. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical characteristic measured by the measuring means is optical reflectance.

17. the test pattern further includes a reference pattern extending in the predetermined direction, into which the reaction liquid and any one of the at least two inks are ejected in one region in the predetermined direction, and into which only the reaction liquid is ejected in the other region in the predetermined direction; A recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the acquisition means acquires the ejection positions of the multiple inks based on the optical characteristics of the reference pattern, and acquires the amount of deviation in the specified direction based on the acquired ejection positions of the multiple inks and the ejection position of the reaction liquid.

18. 18. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the reaction liquid ejected onto the other region of the detection pattern is three-quarters or less of the amount of the reaction liquid ejected onto the one region.

19. A recording method for a recording device that discharges onto a recording medium a plurality of inks made of different materials and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks, comprising: a recording step of recording a test pattern including a detection pattern that extends in a predetermined direction and is divided into two regions in the predetermined direction, into one of which at least two of the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid are ejected, and into the other region, only the at least two inks, or the at least two inks and a smaller amount of the reaction liquid than in the one region, are ejected; a measuring step of measuring optical characteristics of the test pattern recorded in the recording step; an acquisition step of acquiring a boundary between the one region and the other region based on the optical characteristics of the test pattern measured in the measurement step, and acquiring a deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the predetermined direction according to the acquired boundary; a recording step of correcting and recording the amount of deviation acquired in the acquisition step, The detection pattern is a first pattern including a discharge region in one region to which only the reaction liquid is discharged, and a non-discharge region in the other region to which neither the reaction liquid nor the plurality of inks are discharged; a second pattern in which ejection regions to which one ink of two of the plurality of inks is ejected and ejection regions to which the other ink is ejected are alternately arranged in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction across the entire area in the predetermined direction.

20. a recording means for ejecting onto a recording medium a plurality of inks made of different materials and a reaction liquid that reacts with the inks to promote solidification of the inks; A control device for controlling a recording device equipped with a measuring means capable of measuring optical characteristics of a recorded object, recording a test pattern including a detection pattern that extends in a predetermined direction and is divided into two regions in the predetermined direction, into one of which at least two of the plurality of inks and the reaction liquid are ejected, and into the other region, only the at least two inks, or the at least two inks and a smaller amount of the reaction liquid than in the one region, on the recording means; causing the measuring means to measure the optical characteristics of the recorded detection pattern; acquiring a boundary between the one region and the other region based on the measured optical characteristics of the detection pattern, and acquiring a deviation amount of the ejection position of the reaction liquid in the predetermined direction according to the acquired boundary; The detection pattern is a first pattern including a discharge region in one region to which only the reaction liquid is discharged, and a non-discharge region in the other region to which neither the reaction liquid nor the plurality of inks are discharged; a second pattern in which ejection regions from which one ink of two of the plurality of inks is ejected and ejection regions from which the other ink is ejected are alternately arranged in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction across the entire area in the predetermined direction.

21. A program for causing a computer to function as the control device according to claim 20.

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