Colorimetric system and printing apparatus for printed materials

Abstract

To provide a color measurement system of a printed matter which can balance time and accuracy of color measurement of a patch.SOLUTION: A color measurement system 10 of a printed matter A comprises: a color measurement unit 11 which measures colors of a plurality of patches included in a patch chart C printed on a printing medium B; a movement unit 20 which horizontally moves the color measurement unit 11 with respect to the patch chart C; and a control unit 30. The plurality of patches include the first patch C1 about a prescribed first color and the second patch C2 about a prescribed second color. The control unit 30 executes a first color measurement operation of causing the color measurement unit 11 to measure the color of the first patch C1 while moving the color measurement unit 11 on the basis of patch information including information about the first patch C1 and the second patch C2, and a second color measurement operation of causing the color measurement unit 11 to measure the color of the second patch C2 in such a state that the color measurement unit 11 is stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a color measurement system for printed matter and a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional color measurement system for printed matter, for example, the information processing apparatus of Patent Document 1 is known. This information processing apparatus extracts all the colors represented by the print target data and obtains the occupancy rate within the print area for each color. The information processing apparatus generates data for a calibration patch image based on this occupancy rate and prints the calibration patch image by a printer. Then, the information processing apparatus measures the color of the printed calibration patch image with a colorimeter and calibrates the image data of the print target based on this color measurement data.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above information processing apparatus measures the color of the printed calibration patch image with a colorimeter and calibrates the image data of the print target based on this color measurement data. Here, if the calibration patch image is uniformly measured with a colorimeter, there is a risk that it will take time for color measurement or the accuracy of color measurement will decrease.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a color measurement system for printed matter and a printing apparatus that can balance the time and accuracy of patch color measurement.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A colorimetric system for printed materials according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a colorimetric unit for measuring the color of a plurality of patches included in a patch chart printed on a printing medium, a moving unit for moving the colorimetric unit horizontally with respect to the patch chart, and a control unit, wherein the plurality of patches include a first patch relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch relating to a predetermined second color, and the control unit performs a first colorimetric operation in which the colorimetric unit measures the color of the first patch while moving the colorimetric unit, and a second colorimetric operation in which the colorimetric unit measures the color of the second patch while the colorimetric unit is stopped, based on patch information including information about the first patch and the second patch.

[0007] A printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a head having nozzles for ejecting ink onto a printing medium, a first carriage on which the head is mounted and moves in a third direction, a transport unit for transporting the printing medium in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction, a colorimetric unit for measuring the color of a plurality of patches included in a patch chart printed on the printing medium, and a control unit, wherein the plurality of patches include a first patch relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch relating to a predetermined second color, and the control unit performs a printing operation to print the patch chart onto the printing medium using ink ejected from the head, a first colorimetric operation to measure the color of the first patch by the colorimetric unit while moving the colorimetric unit relative to the printing medium by the transport unit, based on patch information including information about the first patch and the second patch, and a second colorimetric operation to measure the color of the second patch by the colorimetric unit while the colorimetric unit is stopped relative to the printing medium, based on the patch information.

[0008] A printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a head having nozzles for ejecting ink onto a printing medium; a first carriage on which the head is mounted and moves in a third direction; a transport unit for transporting the printing medium in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction; a colorimeter for measuring the color of a plurality of patches included in a patch chart printed on the printing medium; a second carriage on which the colorimeter is mounted and moves in the third direction; and a control unit, wherein the plurality of patches include a first patch relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch relating to a predetermined second color, and the control unit performs a printing operation to print the patch chart onto the printing medium using ink ejected from the head; a first colorimeter operation to measure the color of the first patch by the colorimeter while moving the colorimeter on the second carriage relative to the printing medium, based on patch information including information about the first patch and the second patch; and a second colorimeter operation to measure the color of the second patch by the colorimeter while the colorimeter is stopped relative to the printing medium, based on the patch information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a colorimetric system and printing apparatus for printed materials that can balance the time and accuracy of colorimetric measurement of patches.

[0010] The above-mentioned objectives, other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a colorimetric system for printed materials according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and its modified form, viewed from above. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the colorimetric system for printed materials shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a table showing patch information relating to all embodiments and modifications of the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a color measurement method using the color measurement system of the printed matter in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a color measurement method using the color measurement system of the printed matter according to Modification 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing a target image and a display unit displayed on a pointer of an input unit. FIG. 6(b) is a diagram showing a position input button and a display unit displayed on a pointer of the input unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of a color measurement system of a printing unit according to a modification of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method of the color measurement system of the printed matter. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of a printing apparatus according to Embodiments 2-3 of the present invention and modifications thereof. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the printing apparatus of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a patch chart when the fourth direction is the front-rear direction and the patch group is a column in which a plurality of patches are arranged along the front-rear direction. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a control method of the printing apparatus of FIG. 9. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of a color measurement method by the printing apparatus of FIG. 9. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a color measurement method by a printing apparatus according to Modification 3. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a patch chart when the fourth direction is the left-right direction and the patch group is a row in which a plurality of patches are arranged along the left-right direction. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic top view of a printing apparatus according to other modifications of Embodiments 2-3 of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout all the drawings.

[0013] (Embodiment 1) As shown in the example of FIG. 1, a color measurement system 10 for a printed matter A according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention measures the color of patches of a patch chart C in a printed matter A in which an image such as a patch chart C is printed on a printing medium B. The color measurement system 10 includes a color measurement unit 11 that measures a plurality of patches included in the patch chart C printed on the printing medium B, a moving unit 20 that horizontally moves the color measurement unit 11 with respect to the patch chart C, and a control unit 30.

[0014] Hereinafter, the directions in which the moving unit 20 moves the color measurement unit 11 will be described as the left - right direction, the front - rear direction, and the up - down direction that intersect (for example, are orthogonal) to each other. However, the arrangement of the color measurement system 10 is not limited to this. Note that a direction orthogonal to the up - down direction and including the front - rear direction and the left - right direction may be referred to as horizontal. Details of the control unit 30 will be described later.

[0015] The color measurement unit 11 is, for example, a spectrophotometer and a colorimeter, etc., and has a light - emitting element 12 (FIG. 2) and a light - receiving element 13 (FIG. 2). The light - emitting element 12 is a light source such as illuminant D65, C, A, etc., and irradiates light onto the patches on the printing medium B. The light - receiving element 13 receives the light emitted from the light - emitting element 12 and reflected by the patches. The color measurement unit 11 measures the color of the patches based on the light received by the light - receiving element 13 and outputs the measurement value to the control unit 3 . This measurement value is a color value in a device - independent color space, such as a color coordinate, for example, L * a * b * The Lab value in the color space, and the XYZ value in the XYZ color space, etc.

[0016] The mobile unit 20 includes, for example, a base 21 and an arm 22. The base 21 is positioned at a predetermined location in the colorimetric system 10. For example, the base 21 is provided with a white point 23 for calibration of the colorimetric unit 11. The white point 23 is positioned at a predetermined location on the base 21 and has a predetermined color value. This color value is represented by a color value that is a color coordinate in a device-independent color space, such as a Lab value.

[0017] The arm 22 has multiple links, for example, a first link 24 and a second link 25. The base end of the first link 24 is connected to the base 21 by, for example, a first revolute joint 26. The first revolute joint 26 has a first revolute actuator 26a, such as a motor, and rotates the arm 22 relative to the base 21 about a central axis along the vertical direction. The base end of the second link 25 is connected to the tip of the first link 24 by a second revolute joint 27. The second revolute joint 27 has a second revolute actuator 27a, such as a motor, and rotates the second link 25 relative to the first link 24 about a central axis along the vertical direction. The tip of the second link 25 is connected to the colorimeter 11 by, for example, a linear joint 28. The linear joint 28 has a linear actuator 28a, such as a motor and a solenoid, and moves the colorimeter 11 vertically relative to the second link 25. In this way, the colorimeter 11 moves in the left-right, front-back, and up-down directions by the arm 22.

[0018] Furthermore, the colorimetric system 10 for printed material A includes a display unit 14 and an input unit 15, as shown in Figure 2. The display unit 14 is, for example, a display and is electrically connected to the control unit 30. It displays images such as the target image G (Figure 6(a)), which is the image to be printed on the printing medium B, the position input button H (Figure 6(b)), and the pointer of the input unit 15, under the control of the control unit 30. The input unit 15 is, for example, a mouse and a touch panel and is electrically connected to the control unit 30. It is operated by the user to input the position of the pointer on the display unit 14 to the control unit 30.

[0019] <Department Head> As shown in Figure 2, the control unit 30 is, for example, a computer and includes an interface 31, an arithmetic unit 32, and a storage unit 33. The control unit 30 may be composed of a single device, or it may be composed of multiple devices distributed together and configured to operate the colorimetric system 10 of printed material A.

[0020] Interface 31 is electrically connected to external devices D such as a computer, camera, communication network, recording medium, display, and printer, and receives various data such as image data from external devices D. This image data is raster data representing a target image G, which is an image to be printed on a printing medium B, and is represented by color coordinates in a device-dependent color space, such as RGB values ​​in the RGB color space.

[0021] The storage unit 33 is a memory accessible from the arithmetic unit 32 and includes RAM and ROM. The RAM temporarily stores various types of data, such as data received via the interface 31 and data converted by the arithmetic unit 32. The ROM stores programs and predetermined data for various data processing tasks. The programs may be stored on an external storage medium different from the storage unit 33 and accessible from the arithmetic unit 32, such as a CD-ROM.

[0022] The arithmetic unit 32 may include, for example, a processor such as a CPU, and may also include circuits such as an ASIC. The arithmetic unit 32 controls each part of the colorimetric system 10 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 33, and performs various operations such as colorimetric operations.

[0023] Such a control unit 30 is connected to the first rotary actuator 26a, the second rotary actuator 27a, and the linear actuator 28a of the moving unit 20 via a moving drive circuit 34, and is also connected to a moving sensor 29 such as an encoder that detects the amount of rotation, rotation angle, or movement of each actuator. The control unit 30 controls the driving of each actuator based on the detection results from the moving sensor 29. In this way, the control unit 30 controls the movement of the colorimeter 11 by the arm 22 (Figure 1), which includes the first rotary actuator 26a, the second rotary actuator 27a, and the linear actuator 28a, based on the detection results from the moving sensor 29.

[0024] <Patch Chart> Patch chart C includes multiple patches, as shown in the example in Figure 1. The multiple patches include a first patch C1 relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch C2 relating to a predetermined second color. The patches are, for example, rectangular color samples and are of a size that can be measured by the colorimeter 11. The size of the patches may be predetermined according to the resolution of the colorimeter 11. Alternatively, the size of the patches may be determined according to the number of patches included in patch chart C and the size of the print area on which patch chart C is printed. For example, the first patch C1 and the second patch C2 may be the same size as each other.

[0025] In patch chart C, the first color of multiple first patches C1 has different color values ​​from each other. Similarly, the second color of multiple second patches C2 in patch chart C has different color values ​​from each other. The first and second colors are represented by color coordinates in a device-dependent color space, for example, RGB values ​​in the RGB color space.

[0026] Patch chart C is, for example, rectangular and has four corners. In patch chart C, multiple patches are arranged in a grid pattern in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Multiple patches form columns along the front-to-back direction and rows along the left-to-right direction. In the example in Figure 1, in patch chart C, the patches in the first column e1 to the 23rd column e23 are arranged from left to right in this order, and the patches in the first row f1 to the 36th row f36 are arranged from back to front in this order.

[0027] <Patch Information> Patch information is information regarding each of the multiple patches included in patch chart C, including its position within patch chart C and its type, indicating whether it is the first patch C1 or the second patch C2. Patch information may be pre-stored in storage unit 33. Alternatively, patch information may be acquired by the control unit 30 from an external device D or input unit 15, etc. Alternatively, patch information may be acquired by the control unit 30 from an external device D or input unit 15, etc., and then stored in storage unit 33. In the example patch information in Figure 3, each patch is associated with its type, position, and color value.

[0028] In patch chart C, when multiple patches are arranged in a grid pattern in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions, the position of each patch in patch chart C is defined by its column and row. In this case, the left-to-right position of a patch in patch chart C is defined by its column, and its front-to-back position is defined by its row. In the example in Figure 3, the first patch C1 of No. 1 and the first patch C1 of No. 2 are aligned in the same first column e1, and their left-to-right positions are the same. The first patch C1 of No. 1 and the second patch C2 of No. 730 are aligned in the same first row f1, and their front-to-back positions are the same.

[0029] <Color measurement operation of a colorimetric system for printed materials> The color measurement operation of the colorimeter system 10 for printed material A is performed by the control unit 30 according to the flowchart shown in Figure 4, which is an example of the color measurement operation. When the control unit 30 receives a color measurement operation instruction from the user, for example, it performs the color measurement operation according to this flowchart. First, the control unit 30 performs an acquisition operation to obtain patch information from the storage unit 33 or the like (step S1). Then, for each patch, the control unit 30 obtains the patch type, position, and color value from the patch information.

[0030] Furthermore, the control unit 30 performs a patch position correction operation (step S2). In this correction operation, for example, the control unit 30 displays an image of a position input button H on the display unit 14 for inputting the position of the patch chart C. The user moves the colorimeter 11 to the corner of the patch chart C using the arm 22 and inputs the position using the position input button H on the display unit 14 via the input unit 15. As a result, the control unit 30 acquires the position of the colorimeter 11 as the position of the corner of the patch chart C based on the amount of movement of the arm 22. By repeating this movement of the colorimeter 11 and operation of the input unit 15, the control unit 30 acquires the positions of at least three corners of the patch chart C. Then, based on these positions of the corners of the patch chart C, the control unit 30 acquires the position of the patch chart C relative to the movement unit 20. Then, based on the position of the patch chart C relative to the movement unit 20, the control unit 30 corrects the position of the patches in the patch chart C acquired in step S1 to the position of the patches relative to the movement unit 20.

[0031] Furthermore, the control unit 30 performs calibration of the colorimeter 11 (step S3). In this calibration, the control unit 30 obtains color measurement conditions from the colorimeter 11, external device D, or input unit 15, etc. The color measurement conditions include, for example, the type of light-emitting element 12 of the colorimeter 11 and the observation field of view angle of the user observer. The control unit 30 then moves the colorimeter 11 with the arm 22, measures the white point 23 with the colorimeter 11, and obtains the measured color value. The control unit 30 then obtains a predetermined color value of the white point 23 from the storage unit 33 and performs color adjustment of the colorimeter 11 based on the predetermined color value and measured color value of the white point 23, as well as the color measurement conditions.

[0032] Next, the control unit 30 acquires the color measurement value of the patch based on the type of patch acquired in step S1, the position of the patch corrected in step S2, and the colorimetric unit 11 that was calibrated in step S3. At this point, the control unit 30 performs a determination operation to determine whether the patch is the first patch C1 or the second patch C2 based on the patch information (step S4).

[0033] In the determination operation, if the type of patch to be measured is the first patch C1 (step S4: YES), the control unit 30 performs a first color measurement operation (step S5) in which the color measuring unit 11 measures the color of the first patch C1 while moving the color measuring unit 11, based on patch information including information about the first patch C1 and the second patch C2. In this first color measurement operation, the control unit 30 brings the color measuring unit 11 close to the printing medium B using the arm 22 and makes contact with the printing medium B. Then, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 to the first patch C1 using the arm 22 so that the color measuring unit 11 moves horizontally while in contact with the printing medium B. Then, the control unit 30 performs color measurement on the first patch C1 using the color measuring unit 11 without stopping the movement of the color measuring unit 11 on the first patch C1. As a result, the control unit 30 measures the color of the first patch C1 and stores the measured color value of the first patch C1 in the patch information of the storage unit 33, associating it with the position of the first patch C1. Then, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 horizontally to a predetermined position or to the next patch to be measured.

[0034] On the other hand, if the type of patch to be measured in the determination operation is the second patch C2 (step S4: NO), the control unit 30 performs a second color measurement operation in which the second patch C2 is measured by the color measurement unit 11 with the color measurement unit 11 stopped (step S6). In this second color measurement operation, the control unit 30 moves the color measurement unit 11 upward with the arm 22 away from the printing medium B. Then, with the color measurement unit 11 away from the printing medium B, the control unit 30 moves it horizontally to the second patch C2 with the arm 22. Then, the control unit 30 stops the color measurement unit 11 on the second patch C2, and in this stopped state, moves the color measurement unit 11 downward with the arm 22 to bring it into contact with the printing medium B. Then, the control unit 30 has the color measurement unit 11 measure the second patch C2 and stores the measured color value of the second patch C2 in the patch information of the storage unit 33 in association with the position of the second patch C2. Then, the control unit 30 moves the colorimeter 11 upward, and then moves the colorimeter 11 horizontally to a predetermined position or to the next patch to be measured, while keeping it away from the printing medium B.

[0035] Next, the control unit 30 performs a determination operation to determine whether or not there are any patches remaining to be colored, based on the patch information (step S7). If there are patches remaining to be colored (step S7: NO), the control unit 30 returns to the process in step S4 and repeats the processes in steps S4 to S7. Then, when the control unit 30 has colored all the patches in the patch chart C (step S7: YES), it terminates the color measurement operation.

[0036] Thus, in the first color measurement operation, the first patch C1 can be measured quickly by not stopping the color measurement unit 11 when measuring the color of the first patch C1. In contrast, in the second color measurement operation, by stopping the color measurement unit 11 when measuring the color of the second patch C2, a predetermined position in the second patch C2, for example, the center of the second patch C2, can be measured. For example, even if there is a risk of color unevenness at the edges of the second patch C2 due to its proximity to other patches, the center of the second patch C2 is further away from other patches than the edges, thus reducing the risk of color unevenness. By measuring a predetermined position such as the center of the second patch C2, the second patch C2 can be measured with high accuracy. Therefore, a balance can be struck between the time and accuracy of patch measurement depending on the type of patch.

[0037] <Example 1> In the colorimetric system 10 for printed material A according to modified example 1, in embodiment 1, the multiple patches constitute multiple patch groups arranged along a first direction. The multiple patch groups are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction and include a first patch group composed of a first patch C1 and a second patch group composed of a second patch C2. In a determination operation, the control unit 30 determines whether each of the multiple patch groups belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group based on the patch information. If the control unit 30 determines that the patch group is the first patch group, in the first colorimetric operation, the colorimetric unit 11 is moved along the first patch group while the colorimetric unit 11 measures the color of the first patch C1. If the control unit 30 determines that the patch group is the second patch group, in the second colorimetric operation, the colorimetric unit 11 is moved and stopped repeatedly along the second patch group while the colorimetric unit 11 is stopped while the colorimetric unit 11 measures the color of the second patch C2.

[0038] Specifically, as shown in the example in Figure 1, in patch chart C, multiple patches are arranged in a grid pattern in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Multiple patches form columns along the front-to-back direction and rows along the left-to-right direction. For example, if the first direction is the front-to-back direction, the patch group is a column of multiple patches arranged along the front-to-back direction. Of these patch groups, the first patch group is a column of first patch C1, where multiple first patch C1s are arranged along the front-to-back direction, excluding the second patch C2. The second patch group is a column of second patch C2, where multiple second patch C2s are arranged along the front-to-back direction, excluding the first patch C1.

[0039] In the example in Figure 1, in patch chart C, the patches are arranged from left to right in the order of column 1 e1 to column 23 e23, with a maximum of 36 patches in each column. In this case, the 729 first patches C1 form 21 columns and 36 rows, with 36 first patches C1 arranged in the front-to-back direction in each of columns 1 e1 to 20 e20, and 9 first patches C1 arranged in the front-to-back direction in column 21 e21. In front of this 21st column e21 is a blank area C0 where neither the first patch C1 nor the second patch C2 is placed. This blank area C0 is located in the left-to-right direction between column 20 e20 of the first patch C1 and column 22 e22 of the second patch C2.

[0040] The 50 second patch C2 units form 2 columns and 36 rows. In column 22 e22, 36 second patch C2 units are arranged in the front-to-back direction, and in column 23 e23, 14 second patch C2 units are arranged in the front-to-back direction. Thus, the columns 1 e1 to 21 e21 of the first patch C1 and the columns 22 e22 to 23 e23 of the second patch C2 are positioned differently from each other in the left-to-right direction.

[0041] The color measurement operation of the colorimeter system 10 for such printed material A is performed by the control unit 30 according to the flowchart shown in Figure 5, which is an example of the colorimeter operation. In this flowchart of Figure 5, the process of step S4' is performed instead of the process of step S4 in the flowchart of Figure 4.

[0042] Specifically, the control unit 30 performs acquisition, correction, and calibration operations (steps S1 to S3). Next, in a determination operation, the control unit 30 determines, based on the patch information, whether each of the multiple patch groups belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group (step S4'). In this determination operation, the control unit 30 acquires the rows of patches in the patch chart C based on the position of the patches in the patch information acquired in the acquisition operation of step S1. Then, the control unit 30 determines, for each row, whether the row of patches to be colorimetrically measured belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group, based on the type of patch in the patch information. In other words, the control unit 30 determines that a row of patches that includes the first patch C1 but does not include the second patch C2 is the first patch group, and a row of patches that includes the second patch C2 but does not include the first patch C1 is the second patch group.

[0043] Next, if the group of patches to be measured in the determination operation is a row of the first patch C1 (step S4': YES), the control unit 30 performs the first color measurement operation (step S5). In this first color measurement operation, for example, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 downward with the arm 22 so that the color measuring unit 11 is in contact with the printing medium B. When measuring the first patch C1 in the first column e1, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 with the arm 22 to either over the first patch C1 in the first column e1, the first row f1, or behind the first patch C1. With the color measuring unit 11 in contact with the printing medium B, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 forward along the first column e1 and performs color measurement on each of the first patches C1 from the first row f1 to the 36th row f36 in the first column e1 without stopping the movement of the color measuring unit 11. As a result, the control unit 30 measures the color of each of the first patches C1 in the first column e1 from the first row f1 to the 36th row f36, and stores the measured color value of the first patch C1 in the patch information of the storage unit 33, associating it with the position of the first patch C1. Then, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 to a predetermined position or to the next row of patches to be measured.

[0044] On the other hand, if the group of patches to be measured in the determination operation is in the column of the second patch C2 (step S4': NO), the control unit 30 performs a second color measurement operation (step S6). In this second color measurement operation, for example, when the control unit 30 measures the second patch C2 in the 22nd column e22, it moves the color measuring unit 11 with the arm 22 to the 22nd column e22, on or behind the second patch C2 in the 1st row f1. Then, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 upward with the arm 22 to move it away from the printing medium B, and with the color measuring unit 11 away from the printing medium B, it moves the color measuring unit 11 forward along the 22nd column e22 with the arm 22. Then, the control unit 30 moves the color measuring unit 11 downward with the arm 22 so that it is in contact with the printing medium B at a predetermined position in the second patch C2 of the 1st row f1, for example, in the center of the second patch C2. Then, the control unit 30 performs color measurement of the second patch C2 by the colorimeter 11 while the colorimeter 11 is stopped.

[0045] In this way, the control unit 30 repeatedly performs the following actions for each second patch C2 in the 22nd column e22, from the 1st row f1 to the 36th row f36: moving the colorimeter 11 upward, moving the colorimeter 11 forward along the 22nd column e22 with the colorimeter 11 away from the printing medium B, stopping the colorimeter 11 in the center of the second patch C2 and approaching the printing medium B, and measuring the color of the second patch C2 with the colorimeter 11 in contact with the printing medium B. As a result, the control unit 30 measures the color of each second patch C2 in the 22nd column e22, from the 1st row f1 to the 36th row f36, and stores the measured color value of the second patch C2 in the patch information of the storage unit 33, associating it with the position of the second patch C2. Then, the control unit 30 moves the colorimeter 11 to a predetermined position or to the next patch column to be measured.

[0046] Then, if there are still patches to measure (step S7: NO), the control unit 30 returns to the process in step S4' and repeats the processes in steps S4' to S7. In the example in Figure 1, the control unit 30 performs the first color measurement operation in step S5 for each patch in each of the columns from the first column e1 to the 21st column e21. In the first column e1 to the 20th column e20, the color measurement unit 11 measures the color of each first patch C1 in the first row f1 to the 36th row f36. In the 21st column e21, the color measurement unit 11 measures the color of each first patch C1 in the first row f1 to the 9th row. The control unit 30 also performs the second color measurement operation in step S6 for each patch in each of the columns from the 22nd column e22 to the 23rd column e23. In column 22 e22, the colorimeter 11 measures the color of each second patch C2 from row 1 f1 to row 36 f36. In column 23 e23, the colorimeter 11 measures the color of each second patch C2 from row 1 f1 to row 14.

[0047] Then, when the control unit 30 has measured the color of all patches in the patch chart C (step S7: YES), it terminates the color measurement operation. In this way, in the first color measurement operation, the color measurement unit 11 is moved without stopping when measuring the color of the first patch C1 column, allowing for rapid color measurement of the first patch C1 column. In contrast, in the second color measurement operation, the color measurement unit 11 is stopped for each second patch C2 when measuring the color of the second patch C2 column, allowing for accurate color measurement of the second patch C2. Therefore, a balance can be struck between the time and accuracy of patch color measurement depending on the type of patch column.

[0048] Furthermore, in patch chart C, the columns of the first patch C1 and the second patch C2 are positioned at different locations in the left-right direction. This allows the first color measurement operation to be performed for each of the first patches C1 in the column by moving the colorimeter 11 in the front-back direction. Similarly, the second color measurement operation can be performed for each of the second patches C2 in the column by moving the colorimeter 11 in the front-back direction. In this way, by not mixing the first patches C1 and the second patches C2 in the same column but composing them in different columns, the first or second color measurement operation can be performed uniformly for each column.

[0049] In the example in Figure 1, the multiple patches in the patch group were arranged in the front-to-back direction, but the direction in which the patches are arranged is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 7, when the first direction is the left-to-right direction, the patch group is a row in which multiple patches are arranged along the left-to-right direction. In this patch group, the first patch group is a row of first patches C1 arranged along the left-to-right direction without including second patch C2, and the second patch group is a row of second patches C2 arranged along the left-to-right direction without including first patch C1.

[0050] In the example in Figure 7, in patch chart C, the patches are arranged from front to back in the order of row 1 f1 to row 23 f23, and the patches are arranged from left to right in the order of column 1 e1 to column 36 e36. Of these, each of the rows from row 1 f1 to row 21 is a row in which multiple first patches C1 are arranged horizontally, and is the first patch group. Each of the rows from row 22 f22 to row 23 f23 is a row in which multiple second patches C2 are arranged horizontally, and is the second patch group. In row 21 f21, there are nine first patches arranged horizontally, and to the right of row 21 f21 is a blank area C0 where neither the first patch C1 nor the second patch C2 is placed. The blank area C0 is located in the front-to-back direction between row 20 f20 of the first patch C1 and row 22 f22 of the second patch C2.

[0051] In this case, during the first color measurement operation of the colorimetric system 10 for printed material A, the control unit 30 moves the colorimetric unit 11 to the right along the row of the first patch C1, and measures the color of the first patch C1 with the colorimetric unit 11. In the second color measurement operation, the control unit 30 repeatedly moves and stops the colorimetric unit 11 along the row of the second patch C2, and measures the color of the second patch C2 with the colorimetric unit 11 while the colorimetric unit 11 is stopped. This allows for a balance between the time and accuracy of patch measurement depending on the type of patch group. Furthermore, since the row of the first patch C1 and the row of the second patch C2 are located at different positions in the front-to-back direction in the patch chart C, the first or second color measurement operation can be performed uniformly for each row.

[0052] <Modification 2> The colorimetric system 10 for the printing medium B according to the modified example 2 includes a printing unit 16 that prints patches onto the printing medium B, as shown in the example in Figure 1, in the embodiment 1 and modified example 1. The control unit 30 performs a printing operation to print the patch chart C onto the printing medium B. For example, the first color is a color included in the color gamut that can be printed by the printing unit 16.

[0053] Furthermore, for example, the colorimetric system 10 for print medium B includes a storage unit 33 for storing patch information and a reception unit 32a for receiving a second color specification by the user. The patch information also includes information regarding the position and type of the second patch C2 corresponding to the second color received by the reception unit 32a.

[0054] Specifically, the printing unit 16 is a serial head system and includes a head 40, a platen 17, multiple tanks 18, a transport unit 50, and a head moving unit 60, and is located, for example, behind the colorimeter 11. The printing unit 16 may also be a line head system. In this case, the printing unit 16 does not include a head moving unit 60, and the head 40 does not move but has dimensions longer than the length of the printing area of ​​the printing medium B in the left-right direction.

[0055] The direction in which the transport unit 50 transports the printing medium B is referred to as the front-rear direction. The direction in which the head 40 moves by the head moving unit 60, which intersects (for example, perpendicular to) the front-rear direction, is referred to as the left-right direction. The direction in which the head 40 intersects (for example, perpendicular to) both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is referred to as the up-down direction. However, the arrangement of the printing unit 16 is not limited to these.

[0056] The print head 40 has a plurality of nozzles 41 and a plurality of drive elements 42 (Figure 2), the nozzles 41 opening to the lower surface of the print head 40. The drive elements 42 are piezoelectric elements, heating elements, electrostatic actuators, etc., and are provided for each nozzle 41, applying pressure to the ink to eject ink from the nozzles 41. The platen 17 has a flat upper surface and defines the distance between the printing medium B placed on its upper surface and the lower surface of the print head 40 which is provided opposite it. The plurality of tanks 18 each store cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K inks and supply them to the corresponding nozzles 41 of the print head 40.

[0057] The transport unit 50 includes, for example, two transport rollers 51 and a transport motor 52 (Figure 2). The two transport rollers 51 are positioned with a platen 17 in between them in the front-to-back direction. Each transport roller 51 has an axis extending in the left-to-right direction and is connected to the transport motor 52. Driven by the transport motor 52, the transport rollers 51 rotate around their axis and transport the printing medium B on the platen 17 in the front-to-back direction.

[0058] The head movement unit 60 includes a first carriage 61, two first guide rails 62, a first movement motor 63, and a first endless belt 64. The two first guide rails 62 extend in the left-right direction above the platen 17 so as to sandwich the head 40 between them in the front-rear direction. The first carriage 61 mounts the head 40 and is supported by the two first guide rails 62 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The first endless belt 64 extends in the left-right direction and is attached to the first carriage 61, and is also attached to the first movement motor 63 via a first pulley 65. When the first movement motor 63 is driven, the first endless belt 64 travels, and the first carriage 61 reciprocates in the left-right direction along the first guide rails 62. This causes the first carriage 61 to move the head 40 in the left-right direction.

[0059] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the control unit 30 is connected to the drive element 42 via the head drive circuit 35 and controls the drive of the drive element 42. This controls the timing and amount of ink ejection from the head 40 by the drive element 42.

[0060] The control unit 30 is connected to the first movement motor 63 of the head movement unit 60 via the first movement drive circuit 36, and is also connected to a first movement sensor 66, such as an encoder, which detects the position of the first carriage 61. Based on the detection results from the first movement sensor 66, the control unit 30 controls the drive of the first movement motor 63. This controls the movement of the first carriage 61 and the head 40 by the head movement unit 60.

[0061] The control unit 30 is connected to the transport motor 52 of the transport unit 50 via the transport drive circuit 37, and is also connected to a transport sensor 53, such as an encoder, which detects the amount or angle of rotation of the transport motor 52. Based on the detection results from the transport sensor 53, the control unit 30 controls the drive of the transport motor 52. This controls the transport of the printing medium B by the transport unit 50.

[0062] With this printing unit 16, the control unit 30 acquires image data of the target image G and patch chart C from an external device D and a storage unit 33, and executes a printing operation based on the image data. For example, the control unit 30 moves the head 40 to the right or left and ejects ink from the head 40 onto the printing medium B. The control unit 30 then transports the printing medium B forward. In this way, the printing unit 16 repeatedly alternately moves the head 40, ejects ink, and transports the printing medium B, carrying out the printing operation to print an image on the printing medium B with ink.

[0063] The control method for the colorimetric system 10 of such printed material A is performed by the control unit 30 in accordance with the flowchart shown in Figure 8, for example. The control unit 30 receives a print command from the user and performs each process in accordance with this flowchart. Here, the control unit 30 obtains image data of the target image G to be printed on the printing medium B from an external device D (step S11). Then, the control unit 30 obtains patch creation conditions from the external device D or the input unit 15, etc. (step S12). The patch creation conditions include, for example, the size or type of the printing medium B for printing the patch, the size of the patch, and the image data of the target image G obtained from the external device D or the input unit 15, etc.

[0064] Next, the control unit 30 acquires the first color of the first patch C1 (step S13). Here, the control unit 30 acquires the color gamut of the printing unit 16 from the storage unit 33 or the like. The color gamut of the printing unit 16 is the range of colors that can be printed by the printing unit 16, and is represented by device-dependent color coordinates such as RGB values ​​in the RGB color space. The color gamut of the printing unit 16 has, for example, a color range of RGB values ​​from (0,0,0) to (255,255,255). These RGB values ​​represent a single color by a combination of, for example, 256 levels of red color values, 256 levels of green color values, and 256 levels of blue color values.

[0065] The control unit 30 then acquires a color value as the first color, which represents the color gamut of the printing unit 16 in steps at predetermined gradation intervals. For example, if each of RGB has a color gamut of 256 gradations and is represented every 32 gradations, the first color is (256 / 32+1) 3 It has 729 colors. Thus, the first colors of multiple first patches C1 in patch chart C have different color values ​​from each other. The control unit 30 then associates the type of patch with the first color as the first patch C1 and stores the type of first patch C1 and the first color in the patch information of the storage unit 33, as shown in the example in Figure 3.

[0066] Next, the control unit 30 obtains the second color of the second patch C2 from the receiving unit 32a (step S14). For example, as shown in the example in Figure 6(a), the control unit 30 displays the target image G to be printed on the printing medium B on the display unit 14 based on its image data. The user operates the input unit 15 to specify the position of the target image G displayed on the display unit 14. The control unit 30 obtains the color of the target image G displayed on the display unit 14, corresponding to the position entered by the input unit 15, from the image data as the second color. In this way, the control unit 30 functions as the receiving unit 32a.

[0067] The control unit 30 then acquires the second color corresponding to the specified position each time the user specifies a position. The color value of the second color is represented by device-dependent color coordinates, such as RGB values. The control unit 30 then stores the type of the second color patch as the second patch C2, associating the type of second patch C2 with the second color, in the patch information of the storage unit 33, as shown in the example in Figure 3.

[0068] Next, the control unit 30 performs a printing operation (step S15). In the printing operation, the control unit 30 generates image data of the patch chart C according to the number of first-color patches, the number of second-color patches, the size of the patches, and the size of the printing medium B. Here, the control unit 30 arranges multiple patches in a grid pattern in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions in the patch chart C. As a result, the patch chart C forms columns that are first patch groups, where multiple first patches C1 are arranged in the front-to-back direction, and columns that are second patch groups, where multiple second patches C2, which are second-color patches, are arranged in the front-to-back direction. The control unit 30 then represents the position of the patches in the patch chart C by the columns and rows of the patches, associates them with the color values ​​of the patches, and stores them in the patch information of the storage unit 33.

[0069] Here, the printing unit 16 prints using four types of CMYK inks, while the first and second colors in the patch chart C are represented by RGB values. In this case, the control unit 30 converts the RGB values ​​in the image data of the patch chart C to CMYK values, which are color coordinates in the CMYK color space, the dependent color space of the printing unit 16, based on predetermined color conversion data stored in the storage unit 33. Then, the control unit 30 prints the patch chart C onto the printing medium B using the printing unit 16 based on the color-converted image data. The printed material A, with the patch chart C printed on the printing medium B, is transported forward by the printing unit 16 and supplied to the colorimeter 11 located in front of the printing unit 16.

[0070] Next, the control unit 30 performs a color measurement operation (step S16). In this color measurement operation, the control unit 30 performs the color measurement operations of steps S1 to S7 as shown in the example in Figure 4 or Figure 5. The first and second color measurement operations in this operation allow for a balance between the time and accuracy of color measurement of the patch, depending on the type of patch. The control unit 30 then acquires the color measurement value of the patch from the color measurement operation and stores the color value of the patch and the color measurement value in the patch information of the storage unit 33, associating them. Note that if the position of the patch relative to the moving unit 20 can be obtained based on the detection results of the transport sensor 53, the first moving sensor 66, and the moving sensor 29, the correction operation in step S2 can be omitted. In this case, the first and second color measurement operations are performed based on the position of the patch relative to the moving unit 20 based on the detection results of each sensor.

[0071] Next, the control unit 30 performs an interpolation operation to interpolate the first color in the color gamut of the printing unit 16 (step S17). In the interpolation operation, if the color gamut of the first color is represented by RGB values ​​with 32 gradation intervals, the control unit 30 obtains an RGB value smaller than this interval, for example, a 16 gradation interval, based on the second color by linear interpolation or the like. This results in (256 / 16+1) 3 = 4913 RGB values ​​are obtained. Based on this, the control unit 30 obtains Lab values ​​corresponding to the 4913 RGB values ​​in the color gamut of the printing unit 16 by linear interpolation or the like, based on the Lab values ​​which are the measured color values ​​of the first patch C1 and the second patch C2 in the patch information, and stores the correspondence between the RGB values ​​and Lab values ​​in the storage unit 33.

[0072] Next, the control unit 30 performs a creation operation to create a color proofing profile (step S18). In the creation operation, the control unit 30 creates a color proofing profile based on the correspondence between RGB values ​​and Lab values ​​in the color gamut of the printing unit 16 and predetermined color conversion data stored in the storage unit 33. For example, the control unit 30 converts the Lab values ​​of the color gamut to CMYK values ​​based on the predetermined color conversion data and creates a color proofing profile that associates the RGB values ​​and CMYK values ​​of the color gamut. Since this color proofing profile is based on the measured values ​​of the second color specified by the user, the control unit 30 can color-proof the image data of the target image G based on the color proofing profile and print it, thereby bringing the color of the printed target image G closer to the target Lab value.

[0073] In addition, during steps S15 and S16 of Figure 8, the control unit 30 may perform a first colorimetric operation or a second colorimetric operation while the printing operation is in progress. For example, as shown in the example in Figure 7, the printing unit 16 is located behind the colorimetric unit 11 and prints the patch chart C onto the printing medium B and transports the printed material A forward. In this patch chart C, multiple patches are arranged in the left-right direction to form rows of patches, and the first row f1 to the 23rd row f23 of patches are arranged in this order from front to back.

[0074] In this case, as the printing unit 16 prints the patches sequentially starting from the first row f1 and transports them forward, the printed material A is supplied to the colorimeter 11 sequentially starting from the first row f1 of the patches. While the printing unit 16 is performing this printing operation, the moving unit 20 moves the colorimeter 11 to the right along the rows of patches, measuring the patches in each row from left to right. Each time the printed material A is transported forward, the colorimeter 11 measures the patches in the subsequent rows sequentially starting from the first row f1. Once the colorimeter 11 has finished measuring, the printed material A is transported forward. The printing unit 16 waits without printing any patches until the colorimeter 11 has finished measuring. In this way, by performing the first or second colorimeter operation while the printing operation is in progress, the time from printing to colorimetering of the patch chart C can be shortened.

[0075] Furthermore, as shown in the example in Figure 7, the printing medium B may have an upstream end B1 and a downstream end B2 in the transport direction of the printing medium B. In this case, the control unit 30 may, during the printing operation, cause the patch chart C to be closer to the downstream end B2 than to the upstream end B1 in the transport direction, and the first patch group in the patch chart C to be closer to the downstream end B2 than to the second patch group.

[0076] Specifically, in the example shown in Figure 7, the printing unit 16 prints the patch chart C onto the printing medium B and transports it forward. In this case, the printing unit 16 prints the patch chart C onto the printing medium B such that the patch chart C is closer to the front end (downstream end B2) of the printing medium B than to the rear end (upstream end B1) of the printing medium B. As a result, the forward distance between the front end of the patch chart C and the front end of the printing medium B is smaller than the backward distance between the rear end of the patch chart C and the rear end of the printing medium B. In this case, the time it takes for the patch chart C printed on the printing unit 16 to reach the colorimeter 11 located in front of the printing unit 16 is shorter than when the forward distance is greater than the backward distance. Therefore, the time from printing the patch chart C to colorimetering can be shortened.

[0077] Furthermore, in the above procedure, patches C1 and C2 were measured with the colorimeter 11 in close proximity to the printing medium B. However, patches C1 and C2 may also be measured with the colorimeter 11 at a distance from the printing medium B.

[0078] (Embodiment 2) The printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, as shown in the example in Figures 9 to 11, includes a head 140 having nozzles 141 for ejecting ink onto a printing medium B, a first carriage 161 on which the head 140 is mounted and moves in a third direction, a transport unit 150 for transporting the printing medium B in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction, a colorimeter 111 for measuring the color of a plurality of patches included in a patch chart C printed on the printing medium B, and a control unit 130. The plurality of patches include a first patch C1 relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch C2 relating to a predetermined second color. The control unit 130 performs a printing operation to print the patch chart C onto the printing medium B using ink ejected from the head 140. Based on patch information including information about the first patch C1 and the second patch C2, the control unit 130 performs a first colorimetering operation to measure the color of the first patch C1 by the colorimeter 111 while the colorimeter 111 is moved relative to the printing medium B by the transport unit 150. Based on the patch information, the control unit 130 performs a second color measurement operation, in which the color measurement unit 111 measures the color of the second patch C2 on the printing medium B while the color measurement unit 111 is stopped.

[0079] Specifically, in the following, the third direction in which the first carriage 161 moves will be referred to as the left-right direction. The fourth direction intersecting (e.g., perpendicular to) the third direction will be referred to as the front-back direction. Furthermore, the directions intersecting (e.g., perpendicular to) the third and fourth directions will be referred to as the up-down direction. However, the arrangement of the printing device 100 is not limited to this.

[0080] As shown in the examples in Figures 9 and 10, the printing apparatus 100 includes a colorimetric unit 111, a display unit 114, an input unit 115, a platen 117, a plurality of tanks 118, a control unit 130, a head 140, a transport unit 150, and a head moving unit 160. The configuration of the colorimetric unit 111, display unit 114, input unit 115, platen 117, tanks 118, control unit 130, head 140, transport unit 150, and head moving unit 160 of the printing apparatus 100 is the same as or similar to the configuration of the colorimetric unit 11, display unit 14, input unit 15, platen 17, tanks 18, control unit 30, head 40, transport unit 50, and head moving unit 60 of the colorimetric system 10 for printed material A. These components of the printing apparatus 100 are represented by reference numerals obtained by adding 100 to the reference numerals of the corresponding components of the colorimetric system 10.

[0081] The printing apparatus 100 also includes a second carriage 170 that carries a colorimeter 111 and moves in a third direction. For example, the second carriage 170 is positioned downstream of the head 140 in the transport direction of the printing medium B, for example, in front of it. The second carriage 170 carries the colorimeter 111 and is supported by two second guide rails 171 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The two second guide rails 171 extend in the left-right direction so as to sandwich the colorimeter 111 between them in the front-rear direction. A second endless belt 172 extends in the left-right direction and is attached to the second carriage 170 and is also attached to a second moving motor 173 via a second pulley 174. When the second moving motor 173 is driven, the second endless belt 172 travels, and the second carriage 170 reciprocates in the left-right direction along the second guide rails 171. This causes the second carriage 170 to move the colorimeter 111 in the left-right direction.

[0082] The control unit 130 is connected to the second mobile motor 173 via the second mobile drive circuit 175, and is also connected to a second mobile sensor 176, such as an encoder, which detects the position of the second carriage 170. The control unit 130 controls the drive of the second mobile motor 173 based on the detection result from the second mobile sensor 176. In this way, the control unit 130 controls the movement of the second carriage 170 and the colorimeter 111 by the second mobile motor 173 based on the detected value from the second mobile sensor 176.

[0083] Furthermore, the printing apparatus 100 is equipped with a proximity unit 180. For example, the proximity unit 180 includes a proximity actuator 181 such as a motor and a solenoid, and is connected to the second carriage 170 and the colorimeter 111. The proximity unit 180 moves the colorimeter 111 up and down relative to the second carriage 170, thereby bringing the colorimeter 111 into contact with the printing medium B or moving the colorimeter 111 away from the printing medium B. The control unit 130 is connected to the proximity actuator 181 via a proximity drive circuit 182 and is also connected to a proximity sensor 183 such as an encoder that detects the amount of movement of the proximity actuator 181. The control unit 130 controls the driving of the proximity actuator 181 based on the detection results from the proximity sensor 183. In this way, the control unit 130 controls the up and down movement of the colorimeter 111 by the proximity unit 180 based on the detection results from the proximity sensor 183.

[0084] Thus, the printing apparatus 100 has a transport unit 150, a second carriage 170, and a proximity unit 180 as relative movement units for moving the printing medium B and the colorimeter 111 relative to each other. The transport unit 150 moves the printing medium B in the front-to-back direction relative to the colorimeter 111, the second carriage 170 moves the colorimeter 111 in the left-to-right direction relative to the printing medium B, and the proximity unit 180 moves the colorimeter 111 in the up-and-down direction relative to the printing medium B. In this way, the transport unit 150, the second carriage 170, and the proximity unit 180 move the colorimeter 111 relative to the printing medium B.

[0085] Furthermore, the white point 123 for calibration of the colorimeter 111 is positioned within a range that can be measured by the colorimeter 111. For example, the white point 123 is positioned within a range that allows the colorimeter 111 to move by the second carriage 170 in the left-right direction, and within a range that allows it to face the colorimeter 111 in the up-down direction. The white point 123 has a predetermined color value, which is represented by a color value that is a color coordinate in a device-independent color space, such as a Lab value, and this color value is stored in the storage unit 133.

[0086] The relative movement section of the printing device 100 may have a base and an arm, similar to the movement section 20 of the colorimetric system 10 of printed material A. Alternatively, the relative movement section of the printing device 100 may have an arm on the second carriage 170, similar to the arm 22 of the colorimetric system 10 of printed material A. In these cases, the colorimetric unit 111 may be moved relative to the printing medium B by the arm.

[0087] Furthermore, as shown in the example in Figure 16, if the second carriage 170 is provided with an arm 122, a white point 123 may also be provided on the second carriage 170. This arm 122 has the same or similar configuration as the arm 22 of the colorimetric system 10 and is represented by a reference number obtained by adding 100 to the reference number of the arm 22 of the colorimetric system 10.

[0088] In this case, the colorimeter 111 is moved to the white point 123 on the second carriage 170 by the arm 122, and the white point 123 is measured by the colorimeter 111. Since the colorimeter 111 moves left and right together with the white point 123 by the second carriage 170, it is not necessary to move the colorimeter 111 to the position of the white point 123 by the second carriage 170, so the white point 123 can be easily measured by the colorimeter 111 and calibration can be performed.

[0089] <Control method for printing devices> The control method for the printing device 100 is performed by the control unit 130 according to the flowchart shown in Figure 12, for example. The control unit 130 receives a print command from the user and performs each process according to this flowchart. The processes performed by the printing device 100 in the flowchart of Figure 12 are the same as or similar to the processes performed by the colorimetric system 10 in the flowchart of Figure 8. These processes performed by the printing device 100 are represented by reference numerals obtained by adding 100 to the reference numerals of the corresponding processes of the colorimetric system 10.

[0090] In the flowchart of the example in Figure 12, the control unit 130 acquires the image data of the target image G, the patch creation conditions, the first color of the first patch C1, and the second color of the second patch C2 (steps S111 to S114). The first color is a color included in the color gamut that can be printed by the printing device 100. For example, the first color is a color value that represents the color gamut of the printing device 100 stored in the storage unit 133 in steps at predetermined gradation intervals. The second color is a color specified by the user by the receiving unit 132a, and is a color value that is received by the receiving unit 132a by specifying the color of the target image G displayed on the display unit 14 using the input unit 15. In this case, the control unit 130 functions as the receiving unit 132a.

[0091] As shown in the example in Figure 11, the control unit 130 performs a printing operation of the patch chart C based on the acquired information (step S115). In this printing operation, the control unit 130 generates image data of the patch chart C and stores the patch information shown in the example in Figure 3 in the storage unit 133. The control unit 130 then prints the patch chart C onto the printing medium B based on the image data using ink ejected from the nozzle 141 of the head 140. The control unit 130 then transports the printed material A, on which the patch chart C has been printed on the printing medium B, forward using the transport unit 150 and supplies it to the colorimeter 111, which is located in front of the head 140.

[0092] Next, the control unit 130 performs a color measurement operation (step S116). In this color measurement operation, for example, the processes S101 to S107 in the flowchart of the example in Figure 13 are performed. The processes S101 to S107 of the color measurement operation by the printing device 100 are the same as or similar to the processes S1 to S7 of the color measurement operation by the color measurement system 10 in the flowchart of Figure 4. These processes of the color measurement operation by the printing device 100 are represented by reference codes S101 to S107, which are obtained by adding 100 to the reference codes S1 to S7 of the corresponding processes of the color measurement operation by the color measurement system 10. Note that if the position of the patch relative to the relative moving part can be obtained based on the detection results of the transport sensor 153, the first movement sensor 166, the second movement sensor 176, and the proximity sensor 183, the correction operation in step S102 can be omitted. In this case, the first color measurement operation and the second color measurement operation are performed based on the position of the patch relative to the relative moving part based on the detection results of each sensor.

[0093] In step S101 of the flowchart in the example in Figure 13, the control unit 130 performs an acquisition operation to obtain patch information from the storage unit 133, as shown in the example in Figure 3. The patch information includes information about each of the multiple patches included in the patch chart C, including its position within the patch chart C and its type, indicating whether it is the first patch C1 or the second patch C2. The patch information is stored in the storage unit 133. Furthermore, the patch information also includes information about the position and type of the second patch C2 corresponding to the second color received by the receiving unit 132a. As described above, for example, the control unit 130 functions as a receiving unit 132a that receives the user's specification of the second color.

[0094] Then, in step S104, the control unit 130 performs a determination operation to determine, based on the patch information, whether the patch to be measured is the first patch C1 or the second patch C2. Then, depending on the determination result, the control unit 130 performs either the first color measurement operation or the second color measurement operation based on the patch information shown in the example in Figure 3.

[0095] Here, if the control unit 130 determines that the patch to be measured is the first patch C1 (step S104: YES), it performs the first color measurement operation (step S105). In this first color measurement operation, the control unit 130 brings the color measuring unit 111 closer to the printing medium B using the proximity unit 180. The control unit 130 then uses the transport unit 150 to transport the printing medium B in the forward and backward directions so that the color measuring unit 111 moves to the first patch C1 on the printing medium B while the color measuring unit 111 is in contact with the printing medium B. The control unit 130 then performs color measurement using the color measuring unit 111 without stopping the movement of the color measuring unit 111 on the first patch C1, and stores the measured color value of the first patch C1 in the patch information of the storage unit 133 in association with the position of the first patch C1. The control unit 130 then moves the colorimeter 111 to a predetermined position or to the next patch to be measured on the printing medium B using at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0096] Furthermore, if the control unit 130 determines that the patch to be measured is the second patch C2 (step S104: NO), it performs a second color measurement operation (step S106). In this second color measurement operation, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 upward using the proximity unit 180. The control unit 130 then uses the transport unit 150 to transport the printing medium B in the forward and backward direction so that the color measuring unit 111 moves to the second patch C2 on the printing medium B while the color measuring unit 111 is separated from the printing medium B. The control unit 130 then stops the color measuring unit 111 on the second patch C2 and, in this stopped state, moves the color measuring unit 111 closer to the printing medium B using the proximity unit 180. The control unit 130 then has the colorimeter 111 measure the color on the second patch C2 while the colorimeter 111 is in contact with the printing medium B, and stores the measured color value of the second patch C2 in the patch information of the storage unit 133, corresponding to the position of the second patch C2. The control unit 130 then moves the colorimeter 111 upward with the proximity unit 180, and with the colorimeter 111 separated from the printing medium B, moves the colorimeter 111 to a predetermined position or to the next patch to be measured with respect to the printing medium B using at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0097] Thus, in the first color measurement operation, the first patch C1 can be measured quickly by not stopping the color measurement unit 111 when measuring the color of the first patch C1. Furthermore, in the second color measurement operation, the second patch C2 can be measured accurately by stopping the color measurement unit 111 when measuring the color of the second patch C2. Therefore, a balance can be struck between the time and accuracy of patch measurement depending on the type of patch.

[0098] Thus, once all patches in patch chart C have been color-measured (step S107: YES), in the flowchart of the example in Figure 13, the control unit 130 performs an interpolation operation to interpolate the first color based on the second color in the color gamut of the printing unit 16 (step S117), and performs a creation operation to create a color proof profile (step S118). Since this color proof profile is based on the color measurement value of the second color specified by the user, the control unit 130 can color-correct the image data of the target image G based on the color proof profile and print it, thereby bringing the color of the printed target image G closer to the target Lab value.

[0099] In addition, during steps S114 and S115 in Figure 12, the control unit 130 may perform either the first or second color measurement operation while the printing operation is in progress. This makes it possible to shorten the time from printing the patch chart C to color measurement.

[0100] <Variation 3> In the printing apparatus 100 according to the modified example 3, in the embodiment 2, as shown in the example in Figures 9 to 11, the multiple patches constitute multiple patch groups arranged along the fourth direction. The multiple patch groups are arranged in the third direction and include a first patch group composed of the first patch C1 and a second patch group composed of the second patch C2. In the first color measurement operation, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 in the fourth direction relative to the printing medium B by the transport unit 150 and measures the color of the first patch C1 with the color measuring unit 111. In the second color measurement operation, the transport unit 150 repeatedly moves and stops the color measuring unit 111 in the fourth direction relative to the printing medium B and measures the color of the second patch C2 with the color measuring unit 111 while the color measuring unit 111 is stopped relative to the printing medium B.

[0101] Specifically, as shown in the example in Figure 11, in patch chart C, multiple patches are arranged in a grid pattern in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Multiple patches form columns along the front-to-back direction and rows along the left-to-right direction. For example, if the fourth direction is the front-to-back direction, a patch group is a column of multiple patches arranged along the front-to-back direction. Of these patch groups, the first patch group is a column of first patch C1, where multiple first patch C1s are arranged along the front-to-back direction, excluding the second patch C2, and the second patch group is a column of second patch C2, where multiple second patch C2s are arranged along the front-to-back direction, excluding the first patch C1. The first columns e1 to e21 of the first patch C1 and the second columns e22 to e23 of the second patch C2 are located at different positions in the left-to-right direction. In other words, the first patch group and the second patch group are located at different positions in the third direction.

[0102] The control method for such a printing device 100 is performed by the control unit 130 according to the flowchart shown in Figure 12, which is an example of the control method. In the color measurement operation S116 in Figure 12, for example, the processes S101 to S107 in the flowchart of the example in Figure 14 are performed. In the flowchart of Figure 14, the process of step S104' is performed instead of the process of step S104 in the flowchart of Figure 13.

[0103] In step S104', the control unit 130 performs a determination operation to determine, based on the patch information, whether each of the multiple patch groups belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group. In this determination operation, the control unit 130 obtains a row of patches based on the position of the patches in the patch information in the example in Figure 3, and determines, for each row, whether the row of patches to be colorimetrically measured belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group, based on the type of patch.

[0104] Then, if the group of patches to be measured in the determination operation is the column of the first patch C1 (step S104': YES), the control unit 130 executes the first color measurement operation (step S105). In this first color measurement operation, for example, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 downward by the proximity unit 180 so that the color measuring unit 111 is in contact with the printing medium B. Then, when measuring the first patch C1 in the first column e1 of the printing medium B, the control unit 130 moves the printing medium B in the front-to-back direction with the transport unit 150 relative to the color measuring unit 111, or moves the color measuring unit 111 in the left-to-right direction with the second carriage 170 relative to the printing medium B, so that the color measuring unit 111 is positioned on or behind the first patch C1 in the first column e1, first row f1.

[0105] The control unit 130 then transports the printing medium B backward using the transport unit 150 so that the colorimeter 111 moves forward along the first column e1 relative to the printing medium B while the colorimeter 111 is in contact with the printing medium B. The control unit 130 then transports the printing medium B so that the movement of the colorimeter 111 relative to the printing medium B does not stop on each of the first patches C1 from the first row f1 to the 36th row f36 in the first column e1, and performs color measurement on each of the first patches C1 using the colorimeter 111. As a result, the control unit 130 measures the color of each of the first patches C1 from the first row f1 to the 36th row f36 in the first column e1, and stores the measured color value of the first patch C1 in the patch information of the storage unit 133, corresponding to the position of the first patch C1. The control unit 130 then moves the colorimeter 111 to a predetermined position or to the next row of patches to be measured relative to the printing medium B using at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0106] On the other hand, if the group of patches to be measured in the determination operation is in the column of the second patch C2 (step S104': NO), the control unit 130 performs a second color measurement operation (step S106). In this second color measurement operation, for example, when measuring the second patch C2 in the 22nd column e22, the color measurement unit 111 is moved relative to the printing medium B by at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170 so that the color measurement unit 111 is positioned on or behind the second patch C2 in the 22nd column e22, 1st row f1.

[0107] Then, with the colorimeter 111 separated from the printing medium B, the control unit 130 causes the transport unit 150 to transport the printing medium B backward so that the colorimeter 111 moves forward along the 22nd row e22 relative to the printing medium B. At this point, the control unit 130 stops the transport of the transport unit 150 each time the colorimeter 111 reaches a predetermined position in each second patch C2 in the 22nd row e22, for example, the center of the second patch C2.

[0108] Then, with the colorimeter 111 stopped relative to the printing medium B, the control unit 130 moves the colorimeter 111 vertically to bring it closer to the printing medium B than when it was farther away, and performs color measurement on the second patch C2 with the colorimeter 111 in close proximity to the printing medium B. Furthermore, with the colorimeter 111 stopped relative to the printing medium B, the control unit 130 moves the colorimeter 111 vertically to move it away from the printing medium B, and has the printing medium B transported backward by the transport unit 150 to measure the next patch.

[0109] In this manner, the control unit 130 transports the printing medium B by the transport unit 150 so that the colorimetric unit 111 moves along the 22nd column e22 with the colorimetric unit 111 away from the printing medium B, for each second patch C2 from the 1st row f1 to the 36th row f36 in the 22nd column e22. The transport unit 150 then stops transporting the printing medium B so that the colorimetric unit 111 stops in front of the printing medium B at the center of the second patch C2 and approaches the printing medium B, and the colorimetric unit 111 measures the color of the second patch C2. This process is repeated. As a result, the control unit 130 acquires the measured color values ​​for each second patch C2 from the 1st row f1 to the 36th row f36 in the 22nd column e22, and stores these measured color values ​​of the second patch C2 in the patch information of the storage unit 133, associating them with their positions. The control unit 130 then moves the colorimeter 111 to a predetermined position or to the next row of patches to be measured relative to the printing medium B using at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0110] Then, if there are still patches to be measured (step S107: NO), the control unit 130 returns to step S104' and repeats steps S104' to S107. In the example in Figure 11, the control unit 130 performs the first color measurement operation in step S105 for each patch in each of the first column e1 to the 21st column e21. It also performs the second color measurement operation in step S106 for each patch in each of the 22nd column e22 to the 23rd column e23. Then, when the control unit 130 has measured all the patches in the patch chart C (step S107: YES), it terminates the color measurement operation. This first and second color measurement operation allows for a balance between the time and accuracy of patch measurement depending on the type of patch group. Furthermore, since the column of the first patch C1 and the column of the second patch C2 are located at different positions in the left-right direction in the patch chart C, the first or second color measurement operation can be performed uniformly for each column.

[0111] In the above procedure, patches C1 and C2 were measured with the colorimeter 111 in close proximity to the printing medium B. However, patches C1 and C2 may also be measured with the colorimeter 111 at a distance from the printing medium B.

[0112] (Embodiment 3) The printing apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, as shown in the example in Figures 9 to 10 and Figure 15, includes a head 140 having nozzles 141 for ejecting ink onto a printing medium B, a first carriage 161 that carries the head 140 and moves in a third direction, a transport unit 150 that transports the printing medium B in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction, a colorimeter 111 for measuring the color of a plurality of patches included in a patch chart C printed on the printing medium B, a second carriage 170 that carries the colorimeter 111 and moves in a third direction, and a control unit 130. The plurality of patches include a first patch C1 relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch C2 relating to a predetermined second color. The control unit 130 performs the following operations: a printing operation in which the patch chart C is printed on the printing medium B using ink ejected from the head 140; a first color measurement operation in which the colorimeter 111 measures the color of the first patch C1 while moving the colorimeter 111 relative to the printing medium B using the second carriage 170, based on patch information including information about the first patch C1 and the second patch C2; and a second color measurement operation in which the colorimeter 111 measures the color of the second patch C2 relative to the printing medium B with the colorimeter 111 stopped relative to the printing medium B, based on the patch information.

[0113] Specifically, the control method for the printing device 100 is performed by the control unit 130 according to a flowchart, for example, that shows an example of the control method in Figure 12. Here, as shown in the example in Figure 15, a printing operation is performed in which the patch chart C is printed on the printing medium B using ink ejected from the head 140 based on the patch information in the example in Figure 3 (step S115). The control unit 130 then transports the printed material A, on which the patch chart C has been printed on the printing medium B, forward and supplies the printed material A to the colorimeter 111, which is located in front of the head 140.

[0114] Next, the control unit 130 performs a color measurement operation (step S116). In this color measurement operation, for example, the processes S101 to S107 are executed according to the flowchart shown in the example in Figure 13. In step S104, the control unit 130 performs a determination operation to determine, based on the patch information, whether the patch to be measured is the first patch C1 or the second patch C2. As mentioned above, the correction operation in step S102 may be omitted in the color measurement operation.

[0115] Then, in step S105, if the control unit 130 determines that the patch to be measured is the first patch C1 (step S104: YES), it executes the first color measurement operation. In this first color measurement operation, the control unit 130 brings the color measuring unit 111 closer to the printing medium B using the proximity unit 180. Then, with the color measuring unit 111 in contact with the printing medium B, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 to the first patch C1 on the printing medium B using the second carriage 170. Then, without stopping the movement of the color measuring unit 111 on the first patch C1, the control unit 130 performs color measurement using the color measuring unit 111 and stores the measured color value of the first patch C1 in the patch information of the storage unit 133 in association with the position of the first patch C1. Then, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 to a predetermined position or to the next patch to be measured relative to the printing medium B using at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0116] Furthermore, in step S106, if the control unit 130 determines that the patch to be measured is the second patch C2 (step S104: NO), it executes the second color measurement operation. In this second color measurement operation, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 upward using the proximity unit 180. Then, with the color measuring unit 111 away from the printing medium B, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 to the second patch C2 on the printing medium B using the second carriage 170. Then, the control unit 130 stops the color measuring unit 111 on the second patch C2 and, in this stopped state, brings the color measuring unit 111 closer to the printing medium B using the proximity unit 180. Then, with the color measuring unit 111 in contact with the printing medium B, the control unit 130 measures the color on the second patch C2 using the color measuring unit 111 and stores the measured color value of the second patch C2 in the patch information of the storage unit 133 in association with the position of the second patch C2. The control unit 130 then moves the colorimeter 111 upward using the proximity unit 180, and with the colorimeter 111 separated from the printing medium B, moves the colorimeter 111 to a predetermined position or to the next patch to be measured using at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170 relative to the printing medium B.

[0117] Thus, in the first color measurement operation, the first patch C1 can be measured quickly by not stopping the color measurement unit 111 when measuring the color of the first patch C1. In the second color measurement operation, the second patch C2 can be measured accurately by stopping the color measurement unit 111 when measuring the color of the second patch C2. Therefore, a balance can be struck between the time and accuracy of patch measurement depending on the type of patch. Note that in steps S114 and S115 of Figure 12, the control unit 130 may perform either the first or second color measurement operation while the printing operation is in progress. This makes it possible to shorten the time from printing the patch chart C to color measurement.

[0118] Thus, once all patches in patch chart C have been color-measured (step S107: YES), in the flowchart of the example in Figure 13, the control unit 130 performs an interpolation operation to interpolate the first color based on the second color in the color gamut of the printing unit 16 (step S117), and performs a creation operation to create a color proof profile (step S118). Since this color proof profile is based on the color measurement value of the second color specified by the user, the control unit 130 can color-correct the image data of the target image G based on the color proof profile and print it, thereby bringing the color of the printed target image G closer to the target Lab value.

[0119] <Modification 4> In the printing apparatus 100 according to the modified example 3, in embodiment 3, the multiple patches constitute multiple patch groups arranged along a third direction. The multiple patch groups are arranged in a fourth direction and include a first patch group composed of the first patch C1 and a second patch group composed of the second patch C2. In the first color measurement operation, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 in the third direction using the second carriage 170 and measures the color of the first patch C1 with the color measuring unit 111. In the second color measurement operation, the control unit 130 repeatedly moves the color measuring unit 111 in the third direction using the second carriage 170 and stops it, and measures the color of the second patch C2 with the color measuring unit 111 while the color measuring unit 111 is stopped relative to the printing medium B.

[0120] Specifically, as shown in the example in Figure 15, in patch chart C, multiple patches are arranged in a grid pattern in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Multiple patches form columns along the front-to-back direction and rows along the left-to-right direction. For example, if the fourth direction is the left-to-right direction, a patch group is a row of multiple patches arranged along the left-to-right direction. Of these patch groups, the first patch group is a row of first patch C1, where multiple first patch C1s are arranged along the left-to-right direction, excluding the second patch C2, and the second patch group is a row of second patch C2, where multiple second patch C2s are arranged along the left-to-right direction, excluding the first patch C1. Each of the rows from the first to the 21st row of the first patch C1 and each of the rows from the 22nd to the 23rd row of the second patch C2 are located at different positions in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the first patch group and the second patch group are located at different positions in the fourth direction.

[0121] The control method for such a printing apparatus 100 is performed by the control unit 130 according to the flowchart shown in Figure 12, for example. In the color measurement operation of step S116 in Figure 12, the control unit 130 performs the operation according to the flowchart shown in Figure 14, which is an example of the color measurement operation. In this flowchart of Figure 14, the process of step S104' is performed instead of the process of step S104 in the flowchart of Figure 13.

[0122] In the determination operation of step S104', the control unit 130 determines, based on the patch information, whether each of the multiple patch groups belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group. In this determination operation, the control unit 130 obtains the patch row based on the position of the patch in the patch information in the example of Figure 3, and determines, row by row, whether the row of the patch to be color measured belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group, based on the type of patch.

[0123] Then, if the group of patches to be colored in the determination operation is in the row of the first patch C1 (step S104': YES), the control unit 130 executes the first color measurement operation (step S105). In this first color measurement operation, for example, the control unit 130 moves the color measuring unit 111 downward by the proximity unit 180 so that the color measuring unit 111 is in contact with the printing medium B. Then, when the control unit 130 measures the color of the first patch C1 in the first row f1 of the printing medium B, it moves the color measuring unit 111 on the first patch C1 in the first column e1, in the first row f1, or to the left of the first patch C1 by at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0124] Then, with the colorimeter 111 in contact with the printing medium B, the control unit 130 moves the colorimeter 111 to the right along the first row f1 using the second carriage 170. The control unit 130 then moves the colorimeter 111 without stopping over each of the first patches C1 from the first column e1 to the 36th column e36 in the first row f1, and performs color measurement on each first patch C1 using the colorimeter 111. As a result, the control unit 130 measures the color of each of the first patches C1 from the first column e1 to the 36th column e36 in the first row f1, and stores the measured color value of the first patch C1 in the patch information of the storage unit 133, corresponding to the position of the first patch C1. Then, the control unit 130 moves the colorimeter 111 to a predetermined position or to the row of the next patch to be measured on the printing medium B using at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0125] On the other hand, if the group of patches to be measured in the determination operation is in the row of the second patch C2 (step S104': NO), the control unit 130 executes the second color measurement operation (step S106). In this second color measurement operation, for example, when measuring the second patch C2 in the 22nd row f22, the color measurement unit 111 is moved by at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170 to the 22nd row f22, on the second patch C2 in the 1st column e1, or to the left of the second patch C2.

[0126] Then, with the colorimeter 111 away from the printing medium B, the control unit 130 moves the colorimeter 111 to the right along the 22nd row f22 using the second carriage 170. Here, the control unit 130 stops the colorimeter 111 each time it reaches a predetermined position in each second patch C2 in the 22nd row f22, for example, the center of the second patch C2. Then, with the colorimeter 111 stopped, the control unit 130 moves the colorimeter 111 up and down to bring it closer to the printing medium B, and performs color measurement on the second patch C2 with the colorimeter 111 closer to the printing medium B than when the colorimeter 111 was away from the printing medium B.

[0127] In this manner, the control unit 130 moves the colorimeter 111 along the 22nd row f22 with respect to each second patch C2 from the 1st column e1 to the 36th column e36 in the 22nd row f22, and repeatedly measures the color of the second patch C2 with the colorimeter 111 while it is close to the printing medium B, stopping in the center of the second patch C2 relative to the printing medium B. As a result, the control unit 130 acquires the measured color values ​​of each second patch C2 from the 1st column e1 to the 36th column e36 in the 22nd row f22, and stores the measured color values ​​of the second patch C2 in the patch information of the storage unit 133, associating them with the position of the second patch C2. The control unit 130 then moves the colorimeter 111 vertically, and with the colorimeter 111 separated from the printing medium B, moves the colorimeter 111 to a predetermined position or to the next row of patch to be measured relative to the printing medium B by at least one of the transport unit 150 and the second carriage 170.

[0128] Then, if there are still patches to measure (step S107: NO), the control unit 130 returns to step S104' and repeats steps S104' to S107. In the example in Figure 11, the control unit 130 performs the first color measurement operation in step S105 for each patch in each row from the first row f1 to the 21st row f21. It also performs the second color measurement operation in step S106 for each patch in each row from the 22nd row f22 to the 23rd row f23. Then, when the control unit 130 has measured all the patches in the patch chart C (step S107: YES), it terminates the color measurement operation. This first and second color measurement operation allows for a balance between the time and accuracy of patch measurement depending on the type of patch group. Furthermore, since the row of the first patch C1 and the row of the second patch C2 are located at different positions in the front-to-back direction in the patch chart C, the first or second color measurement operation can be performed uniformly for each row.

[0129] Furthermore, the printing medium B may have an upstream end B1 and a downstream end B2 in the transport direction of the printing medium B, which is the fourth direction. In this case, the control unit 130 may, during the printing operation, cause the patch chart C to be closer to the downstream end B2 than to the upstream end B1 in the transport direction, and the first patch group in the patch chart C to be closer to the downstream end B2 than to the second patch group. In the examples of Figures 9 and 15, the time from printing the patch chart C to color measurement can be shortened by printing the patch chart C near the color measurement unit 111 which is in front of the head 140 on the printing medium B.

[0130] Furthermore, in Embodiment 3, as shown in the example in Figure 16, an arm 122 may be provided on the second carriage 170. In this case, a white point 123 may be positioned on the second carriage 170. The arm 122 allows the colorimeter 111 to be moved to the white point 123, and the white point 123 can be easily measured by the colorimeter 111.

[0131] Furthermore, in the above procedure, patches C1 and C2 were measured with the colorimeter 111 in close proximity to the printing medium B. However, patches C1 and C2 may also be measured with the colorimeter 111 at a distance from the printing medium B.

[0132] Furthermore, all of the above embodiments may be combined with each other, provided that they do not exclude one another. Also, many improvements and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. Therefore, the above description should be interpreted as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of its structure and / or function can be substantially modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0133] Furthermore, although an inkjet printer was given as an example of the printing device 1 in the above embodiment, the printing device 1 is not limited to this and may be other printers such as laser printers or thermal printers. A laser printer includes a printing unit. The printing unit of a direct tandem laser printer includes an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum or photosensitive belt, a charging unit that charges the image carrier by contact or non-contact, an exposure unit that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged image carrier using a laser semiconductor or the like (so-called exposure), a toner cartridge or developing cartridge that supplies toner to the image carrier on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed, a transfer unit such as a transfer roller or transfer belt that directly transfers the toner image developed on the image carrier to a printing medium, and a fixing unit such as a fixing roller or fixing belt that heat-fixes the toner transferred to the printing medium.

[0134] The laser printer is not limited to the direct tandem laser printer described above; it may also be an intermediate transfer laser printer. In an intermediate transfer laser printer, the toner image developed on the image carrier is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt, and then transferred from the intermediate transfer belt to the printing medium using a transfer unit. A thermal printer also includes a printing unit. The printing unit of a thermal printer includes a thermal head and an ink ribbon. The thermal head is in contact with the ink ribbon and, when transferring the ink from the ink ribbon to the printing medium, heats up a corresponding heating element, thereby transferring the ink from the ink ribbon to the printing medium.

[0135] Furthermore, in the examples of Figures 1 and 11, in patch chart C, nine first patches C1 are arranged along the front-to-back direction in the 21st column e21, and a blank area C0 is provided in front of this 21st column e21 where neither the first patches C1 nor the second patches C2 are placed. However, the arrangement of the second patches C2 in patch chart C is not limited to this. For example, 27 second patches C2 may be arranged in front of the column of first patches C1 in the 21st column e21 so that no blank area C0 is provided in patch chart C. In this case, the first colorimetric operation and the second colorimetric operation are switched between the nine first patches C1 and the 27 second patches C2. This makes it possible to measure the color of more second patches C2.

[0136] Furthermore, in the examples of Figures 7 and 15, in patch chart C, nine first patches C1 are arranged horizontally in row 21 f21, and a blank area C0 is provided to the right of row 21 g21 where neither the first patches C1 nor the second patches C2 are placed. However, the arrangement of the second patches C2 in patch chart C is not limited to this. For example, 27 second patches C2 may be placed to the right of the column of first patches C1 in row 21 g21 so that no blank area C0 is provided in patch chart C. In this case, the first and second colorimetric operations are switched between the nine first patches C1 and the 27 second patches C2. This allows for the colorimetric measurement of more second patches C2. [Industrial applicability]

[0137] The present invention can be applied to a colorimetric system and printing apparatus for printed materials that can balance the time and accuracy of patch color measurement. [Explanation of symbols]

[0138] 10: Colorimetric system 11: Color measurement section 16:Printing Department 20: Mobile section 23: White point 30: Control Unit 32a: Reception Department 40: Head 41: Nozzle 50: Conveyor Unit 61: First Carriage 100:Printing device 111: Color measurement section 123: White point 130: Control Unit 132a: Reception Department 140: Head 141: Nozzle 150: Conveying section 161: First Carriage 170: Second Carriage

Claims

1. A colorimeter unit that measures the color of multiple patches included in a patch chart printed on a printed medium, A moving unit that moves the colorimeter horizontally relative to the patch chart, It comprises a control unit and, The plurality of patches include a first patch relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch relating to a predetermined second color. The control unit, A determination operation that determines which of the first and second patches the patch to be color-measured is, based on patch information including information about the first and second patches, If the determination operation determines that it is the first patch, a first color measurement operation is performed in which the color measuring unit is moved and the first patch is color-measured by the color measuring unit, If the determination operation determines that it is the second patch, a second color measurement operation is performed, in which the color measurement unit is stopped and the second patch is measured by the color measurement unit, A colorimetric system for printed materials that performs this task.

2. The colorimetric system for printed materials according to claim 1, wherein the patch information is information relating to the position of each of the plurality of patches included in the patch chart and the type indicating whether it is the first patch or the second patch.

3. The aforementioned multiple patches constitute a group of multiple patches arranged along the first direction. The plurality of patch groups are arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and include a first patch group composed of the first patch and a second patch group composed of the second patch. The control unit, A determination operation is performed to determine whether the patch is the first patch or the second patch based on the patch information. In the determination operation described above, it is determined, based on the patch information, whether each of the plurality of patch groups belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group. If the aforementioned patch group is determined to be the first patch group, the first color measurement operation is performed by moving the color measuring unit along the first patch group and measuring the color of the first patch with the color measuring unit. If the aforementioned patch group is determined to be the second patch group, the second color measurement operation repeatedly moves and stops the color measuring unit along the second patch group, and while the color measuring unit is stopped, the second patch is measured by the color measuring unit. The colorimetric system for printed materials according to claim 2.

4. The first patch group and the second patch group are arranged at different positions in the second direction. The colorimetric system for printed materials according to claim 3.

5. The system includes a printing unit for printing the aforementioned patch onto the printing medium, The control unit performs a printing operation to print the patch chart onto the printing medium. The colorimetric system for printed materials according to claim 1.

6. The first color is a color included in the color gamut that can be printed by the printing unit. The colorimetric system for printed materials according to claim 5.

7. It includes a reception unit that accepts the user's specification of the second color, The patch information also includes information regarding the position and type of the second patch corresponding to the second color received by the receiving unit. The colorimetric system for printed materials according to claim 2.

8. A head having nozzles that eject ink onto a printing medium, A first carriage on which the head is mounted and moves in a third direction, A transport unit that transports the printing medium in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction, A colorimeter unit that measures the color of multiple patches included in the patch chart printed on the aforementioned printing medium, It comprises a control unit and, The plurality of patches include a first patch relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch relating to a predetermined second color. The control unit, A printing operation in which the patch chart is printed on the printing medium using ink ejected from the head, A first color measurement operation is performed in which, based on patch information including information about the first patch and the second patch, the color measuring unit is moved by the transport unit relative to the printing medium while the first patch is color-measured by the color measuring unit, A second color measurement operation is performed, in which the second patch is color-measured by the color measurement unit with respect to the printing medium, based on the patch information, with the color measurement unit stopped. Execute, and further, The aforementioned multiple patches constitute a group of multiple patches arranged along the fourth direction. The plurality of patch groups are arranged in the third direction and include a first patch group composed of the first patch and a second patch group composed of the second patch. The control unit, In the first color measurement operation, the transport unit moves the color measuring unit in the fourth direction relative to the printing medium, while the first patch is color-measured by the color measuring unit. In the second color measurement operation, the transport unit repeatedly moves and stops the color measuring unit in the fourth direction relative to the printing medium, and the second patch is measured by the color measuring unit while the color measuring unit is stopped relative to the printing medium. Printing device.

9. The system further includes a second carriage on which the colorimeter is mounted and which moves in the third direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 8.

10. The first patch group and the second patch group are arranged at different positions in the third direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 8.

11. A head having nozzles that eject ink onto a printing medium, A first carriage on which the head is mounted and moves in a third direction, A transport unit that transports the printing medium in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction, A colorimeter unit that measures the color of multiple patches included in the patch chart printed on the aforementioned printing medium, A second carriage, on which the colorimeter is mounted and which moves in the third direction, It comprises a control unit and, The plurality of patches include a first patch relating to a predetermined first color and a second patch relating to a predetermined second color. The control unit, A printing operation in which the patch chart is printed on the printing medium using ink ejected from the head, A first color measurement operation is performed in which, based on patch information including information about the first patch and the second patch, the color measuring unit is moved with respect to the printing medium by the second carriage while the first patch is color-measured by the color measuring unit, A second color measurement operation is performed, in which the second patch is color-measured by the color measurement unit with respect to the printing medium, based on the patch information, with the color measurement unit stopped. Execute, and further, The aforementioned multiple patches constitute a group of multiple patches arranged along a third direction. The plurality of patch groups are arranged in the fourth direction and include a first patch group composed of the first patch and a second patch group composed of the second patch. The control unit, In the first color measurement operation, the first patch is measured by the color measurement unit while the color measurement unit is moved in the third direction by the second carriage. In the second color measurement operation, the second carriage repeatedly moves and stops the color measuring unit in the third direction, and the second patch is color-measured by the color measuring unit while the color measuring unit is stopped relative to the printing medium. Printing device.

12. The first patch group and the second patch group are arranged at different positions in the fourth direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 11.

13. The printing medium has an upstream end and a downstream end in the fourth direction, The control unit causes the patch chart to be printed on the printing medium in the printing operation such that, in the fourth direction, the patch chart is closer to the downstream end than the upstream end, and the first patch group is closer to the downstream end than the second patch group in the patch chart. The printing apparatus according to claim 11.

14. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 or 11, wherein the patch information is information relating to each of the plurality of patches included in the patch chart, including the position within the patch chart and the type indicating whether it is the first patch or the second patch.

15. The control unit, A determination operation is performed to determine, based on the patch information, whether the patch to be measured is the first patch or the second patch. In the determination operation described above, it is determined, based on the patch information, whether each of the plurality of patch groups belongs to the first patch group or the second patch group. If the aforementioned patch group is determined to be the first patch group, the first color measurement operation is performed by moving the color measuring unit along the first patch group with respect to the printing medium and measuring the color of the first patch with the color measuring unit. If the aforementioned patch group is determined to be the second patch group, the second color measurement operation involves repeatedly moving and stopping the color measuring unit along the second patch group on the printing medium, while the second patch is measured by the color measuring unit in the stopped state. The printing apparatus according to claim 14.

16. It includes a reception unit that accepts the user's specification of the second color, The patch information also includes information regarding the position and type of the second patch corresponding to the second color received by the receiving unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 14.

17. The control unit performs the first color measurement operation or the second color measurement operation while the printing operation is being performed. The printing apparatus according to claim 8 or 11.

18. The second carriage is provided with a white point for calibration of the colorimeter. The printing apparatus according to claim 9 or 11.