Printing apparatus, colorimetric method, and colorimetric program

Abstract

To provide a printing device, a color measurement method, and a color measurement program capable of improving accuracy of color measurement.SOLUTION: A printing device includes: a printing unit that prints a patch chart on a print medium; a color measuring unit which measures colors of a plurality of first patches arranged in a first area in the patch chart printed on the print medium and corresponding to a plurality of predetermined colors and one or a plurality of second patches arranged in a second area different from the first area in the patch chart and pertaining to a color designated by a user; and a control apparatus. The control apparatus executes: a process of causing the color measuring unit to measure colors of one second patch multiple times; a process of calculating an average value of results of the multiple measurements; and a process of generating a table in which a color value of an image is associated with the average value as a measured color value in the one second patch.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] <照 The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as an inkjet printer, a color measurement method, and a color measurement program to be executed by a computer in the 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 acquires the occupancy rate in the print area for each color. The information processing apparatus generates data of 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 corrects 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 uniformly measures the printed calibration patch image with a colorimeter, and corrects the image data of the print target based on this color measurement data. However, in the method of uniformly measuring the calibration patch image with a colorimeter, the accuracy of color measurement may decrease.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a color measurement method, and a color measurement program that can improve the accuracy of color measurement.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The printing apparatus of the present invention comprises a printing unit that prints a patch chart on a printing medium, a colorimetric unit that measures the color of a plurality of first patches, which are arranged in a first region of the patch chart printed on the printing medium and correspond to a plurality of predetermined colors, and one or more second patches, which are arranged in a second region different from the first region of the patch chart and correspond to a color specified by the user, and a control device, wherein the control device performs the process of causing the colorimetric unit to measure the color of one of the second patches multiple times, the process of calculating the average value of the multiple color measurement results, and the process of generating a table that associates the color values ​​of an image with the colorimetric values, using the average value as the colorimetric value of one of the second patches.

[0007] According to the present invention, a colorimeter measures the color of a single second patch multiple times, calculates the average of the multiple measurement results, and uses this average as the color value for a single second patch. A table is then generated that associates the color values ​​of an image with the color value. This suppresses bias in the color values ​​of a single second patch, thereby improving the accuracy of color measurement and color calibration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus, a colorimetric method, and a colorimetric program that can improve the accuracy of color measurement. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing a colorimetric system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing device. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a specified image designated by the user in a preview image related to image data displayed in the user interface. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a patch chart printed on a printing medium. [Figure 5]It is a diagram showing a patch sequence table for storing patch sequence information. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing multiple color measurement positions in one second patch. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing a table in which the color value and the color measurement value of a patch are associated. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing a modification example of the second mark image in a patch chart. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing another modification example of the second mark image in a patch chart. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of the number of arrangements of each of the first mark image and the second mark image in a patch chart. [Figure 11] It is a plan view showing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] It is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing apparatus of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing an example of a patch chart printed by the printing apparatus of FIG. 11. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing the relationship between the color measurement cycle and the calibration. [Figure 15] It is a diagram showing the raw data of the color measurement value waveform in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] It is a flowchart showing a color measurement method by a control apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 17] It is a flowchart showing the subroutine of the position correction process of FIG. 16. [Figure 18] It is a diagram showing a modification example of a color measuring machine.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and additions, deletions, and changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0011] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a color measurement system 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the mutually orthogonal directions are defined as the first direction Ds, the second direction Df, and the third direction. In the present embodiment, for example, the first direction Ds is the moving direction of a carriage 41 described later, the second direction Df is the conveying direction of a printed medium W described later, and the third direction is the vertical direction. In the following description, Ds is referred to as the moving direction, Df is referred to as the conveying direction, and the third direction is referred to as the vertical direction.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the color measurement system 100 includes a printing device 1 which is an inkjet printer that prints an image on a printed medium W such as printing paper, a colorimeter 201 provided separately from the printing device 1, and a personal computer 301.

[0013] The printing device 1 is, for example, of a serial head type, and includes a plurality of ejection heads 20, a platen 11, a plurality of tanks 12, a conveying device 30, and a scanning device 40. The printing device 1 may be of a line head type. In this case, the printing device 1 does not include the scanning device 40, and the ejection head 20 does not move and has a dimension longer than the length of the printing area of the printed medium W in the moving direction Ds.

[0014] The ejection head 20 prints an image on the printed medium W based on image data using the inks of the basic colors described later. The image data includes color values. The color values are represented, for example, as RGB values in the RGB color space which is a color coordinate in a device-dependent color space. The RGB value is represented as one color by a combination of a red color value of 0 to 255, a green color value of 0 to 255, and a blue color value of 0 to 255.

[0015] The ejection head 20 prints a patch chart PT (Figure 4), which will be described in detail later, onto the printing medium W. In this embodiment, the ejection head 20 corresponds to the printing unit. The ejection head 20 includes, for example, two first ejection heads 21 and two second ejection heads 22. The platen 11 has a flat upper surface and defines the distance between the printing medium W placed on its upper surface and the lower surface of the ejection head 20 provided opposite it. The tanks 12 are containers for storing ink, and their number is equal to or greater than the number of ink types. For example, the tanks 12 have four first tanks 12a, each storing one of four basic color inks, and one or more second tanks 12b, each storing one of the special color inks.

[0016] Examples of basic ink colors include cyan, yellow, magenta, and black. Special inks, on the other hand, are inks of different colors from the basic inks, such as red, green, and blue.

[0017] The first tank 12a stores the basic color ink and is connected to the first discharge head 21 via the first channel 13a. The basic color ink is supplied from the first tank 12a to the first discharge head 21 via the first channel 13a. The second tank 12b is connected to the second discharge head 22 via the second channel 13b. When the special color ink is stored in the second tank 12b, the special color ink flows from the second tank 12b to the second channel 13b, fills it, and is supplied to the discharge head 20. Before the special color ink is stored in the second tank 12b, it is filled with a storage liquid different from the special color ink. The first channel 13a and the second channel 13b are, for example, rubber tubes or plastic tubes, preferably those that are resistant to bending.

[0018] The conveying device 30 has, for example, two sets of conveying rollers 31 and a conveying motor 32 (Figure 2). The two sets of conveying rollers 31 are arranged in the conveying direction Df (front-to-back direction) with the platen 11 in between them. Each conveying roller 31 has an axis extending in the direction of movement Ds. Each set of conveying rollers 31 is arranged vertically with the printing medium W between them. One of the conveying rollers 31 in each set is connected to the conveying motor 32. The conveying rollers 31 rotate around their axis when driven by the conveying motor 32, and convey the printing medium W on the platen 11 in the conveying direction Df.

[0019] The scanning device 40 includes a carriage 41, a pair of guide rails 42, a scanning motor 43, and an endless belt 44. The pair of guide rails 42 extend in the direction of movement Ds above the platen 11 so as to sandwich the discharge head 20 between them in the transport direction Df. The carriage 41 holds the discharge head 20 and is supported by the pair of guide rails 42 so as to be movable in the direction of movement Ds. The endless belt 44 extends in the direction of movement Ds and is attached to the carriage 41 and is attached to the scanning motor 43 via a pulley 45. When the scanning motor 43 is driven, the endless belt 44 travels and the carriage 41 reciprocates along the guide rails 42 in the direction of movement Ds. This causes the carriage 41 to move the discharge head 20 in the direction of movement Ds.

[0020] The colorimeter 201 is connected to the personal computer 301 via a network such as a wired LAN or wireless LAN. The colorimeter 201 has a base 202 and an arm 204. The base 202 is positioned in the colorimeter system 100 at a predetermined location, such as to the side of the printing device 1. The base 202 is provided with a white reference 210 for a process (hereinafter sometimes referred to as calibration) to calibrate the accuracy of color value measurement by the colorimeter unit 208 described below. The white reference 210 is positioned within a range that can be measured by the colorimeter unit 208. For example, the white reference 210 is positioned within a range that the colorimeter unit 208 can move by the arm 204 in the movement direction Ds, and within a range that can face the colorimeter unit 208 in the vertical direction. The white reference 210 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. In calibration, the white reference 210 is measured by the colorimeter unit 208, and its measured color value is obtained. Then, the color value of a predetermined white standard 210 is obtained from the storage unit, and the measurement accuracy of the colorimeter 208 is calibrated based on the color value, the measured colorimetric value, and the colorimetric conditions.

[0021] The arm 204 has, for example, a first link 205 and a second link 206. The base end of the first link 205 is connected to the base 202 by, for example, a first revolute joint 203. The first revolute joint 203 has an actuator such as a motor and rotates the arm 204 relative to the base 202 about a central axis in the vertical direction. The base end of the second link 206 is connected to the tip of the first link 205 by a second revolute joint 207. The second revolute joint 207 has an actuator such as a motor and rotates the second link 206 relative to the first link 205 about a central axis in the vertical direction. The tip of the second link 206 is connected to the colorimeter 208 by, for example, a linear joint 209. The linear joint 209 has a linear actuator such as a motor and a solenoid and moves the colorimeter 208 vertically relative to the second link 206. In this way, the colorimeter 208 is moved three-dimensionally.

[0022] The colorimeter 208 is, for example, a spectrophotometer and a colorimeter, and has a light-emitting element 211 (Figure 12) and a light-receiving element 212 (Figure 12). The light-emitting element 211 is, for example, a light source such as an illuminant D65, C, or A, and irradiates light onto a patch P (Figure 4) on the printing medium W. The light-receiving element 212 receives the light emitted from the light-emitting element 211 and reflected by the patch P. The colorimeter 208 measures the color of the patch P based on the light received by the light-receiving element 212. This measured color value is expressed as a color value, which is a color coordinate in a device-independent color space, for example, a Lab value in the L*a*b* color space and an XYZ value in the XYZ color space.

[0023] The personal computer 301 is connected to the printing device 1 and the colorimeter 201 via a network such as a wired LAN or wireless LAN. The personal computer 301 includes a user interface 302, a CPU 303, a working memory 304, a storage unit 305, and a data input / output unit 306. The user interface 302 processes user input and display information for the user, and includes input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, as well as a display. The storage unit 305 is, for example, a hard disk. The CPU 303 executes various processes according to the program stored in the storage unit 305, and the working memory 304 is used as a work area during these processes. The data input / output unit 306 is used as an interface for inputting and outputting image data as data to be printed. The user can use the user interface 302 of the personal computer 301 to send instructions to the printing device 1 to print the patch chart PT (Figure 4).

[0024] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing apparatus 1 in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the ejection head 20 has a plurality of drive elements 25. The drive elements 25 are piezoelectric elements, heating elements, electrostatic actuators, etc., and are provided in correspondence with the nozzles 27 of the ejection head 20, and apply pressure to the ink to eject ink droplets from the nozzles 27.

[0025] The printing device 1 further includes a display device 14, an input device 15, and a control device 50. The control device 50 has an interface 51, an arithmetic unit 52, and a storage unit 53. The interface 51 receives various data, such as image data, from external devices 200 such as a computer, camera, communication network, recording medium, display, and printer. The image data is raster data that shows the image to be printed on the printing medium W, and includes information on printing conditions, including the type of the printing medium W. The control device 50 may consist of a single device, or multiple devices may be distributed and configured to cooperate in the operation of the printing device 1.

[0026] The memory unit 53 stores the patch chart PT described later. The memory unit 53 is a memory accessible from the arithmetic unit 52 and includes RAM and ROM. The RAM temporarily stores various data such as data received from an external device 200 such as image data and data converted by the arithmetic unit 52. The ROM stores printing programs, colorimetric programs, and predetermined data for various data processing. Note that the printing program and colorimetric program may be stored in an external storage medium different from the memory unit 53 and accessible from the arithmetic unit 52, such as a CD-ROM.

[0027] The arithmetic unit 52 includes at least one circuit, such as a processor like a CPU and an integrated circuit like an ASIC. The arithmetic unit 52 controls each part by executing a color measurement program and performs various operations such as printing.

[0028] The display device 14 is, for example, a display, which displays images related to image data according to instructions from the control device 50. The input device 15 is, for example, a button, which is operated by the user. Alternatively, the input device 15 may be a touch panel integrated with the display device 14.

[0029] The control device 50 is electrically connected to the transport motor 32 of the transport device 30 via the transport drive circuit 33 and controls the drive of the transport motor 32. This controls the transport of the printing medium W by the transport rollers 31 of the transport device 30. The control device 50 is also electrically connected to the scanning motor 43 of the scanning device 40 via the scanning drive circuit 46 and controls the drive of the scanning motor 43. This controls the movement of the ejection head 20 by the carriage 41 of the scanning device 40. Furthermore, the control device 50 is electrically connected to the drive element 25 via the ejection head drive circuit 26. The control device 50 outputs a control signal for the drive element 25 to the ejection head drive circuit 26, and the head drive circuit 26 generates a drive signal based on the control signal and outputs it to the drive element 25. The drive element 25 is driven according to the drive signal, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle 27.

[0030] In the printing apparatus 1 having the above configuration, the control device 50 acquires image data and executes a printing operation based on the image data. In this case, the control device 50 moves the ejection head 20 in the movement direction Ds during the printing path and ejects ink from the ejection head 20 onto the printing medium W. The control device 50 then transports the printing medium W forward in the transport direction Df. In this way, the printing apparatus 1 alternately repeats the printing path and the transport operation. As a result, the image related to the image data is printed on the printing medium W.

[0031] Figure 3 shows an example of a specified image designated by the user in the preview image PI related to the image data displayed on the user interface 302.

[0032] In the personal computer 301, the CPU 303 displays a preview image PI related to image data stored in the memory unit 305 on the user interface 302. The preview image PI includes, for example, an apple preview image PI1 and a paprika preview image PI2. When the preview image PI is displayed on the user interface 302, the user specifies the image (pixels) related to the color for which they want to create a patch P (the second patch Ps described later). In Figure 3, the apple preview image PI1, for example, specified by the user, is pointed to by the pointer 302a on the user interface 302. Information related to the image specified by the user is transmitted to the control device 50 of the printing device 1 via the data input / output unit 306.

[0033] Figure 4 shows an example of a patch chart PT printed on a printing medium W. In Figure 4, the direction parallel to the direction from upstream to downstream of the transport direction Df is the colorimetric direction Dm.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4, the patch chart PT is a grid of multiple patches P arranged in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions. Therefore, the position of patch P in the patch chart PT can be defined by columns and rows. In this case, for patch P, the left-to-right position in the patch chart PT is defined by the column, and the front-to-back position is defined by the row. The patch chart PT includes a first region R1 where the first patch Pb as patch P is arranged, and a second region R2 which is a blank region different from the first region R1 and adjacent to the first region R1 in the movement direction Ds, where the second patch Ps as patch P is arranged. The first region R1 and the second region R2 are formed, for example, in a rectangular shape in plan view. The patch chart PT is composed of multiple parallel patch rows PR in which multiple patches P are arranged linearly along the transport direction Df. The first patch Pb is arranged in the first region R1 forming a patch row PR, and the second patch Ps is arranged in the second region R2 forming a patch row PR.

[0035] The first patch Pb is a patch P placed at a predetermined position on the patch chart PT corresponding to each of the multiple basic colors in the image data. In contrast, the second patch Ps is a patch P generated by the control device 50 for the color specified by the user in the preview image PI described above. In the preview image PI shown in Figure 3 described above, the patch P for the color of the image specified by the user is placed as the second patch Ps in the second region R2 of the patch chart PT. When the control device 50 generates the second patch Ps, it generates raster data including the ink color, droplet size, and ink droplet ejection order (arrangement) for forming the patch P related to the second patch Ps. The first patch Pb is sometimes called a basic patch, and the second patch Ps is sometimes called an important patch.

[0036] Here, when measuring the color of each patch P, it is necessary to obtain the location information of that patch P. Therefore, before performing the color measurement of patch P, a process is carried out to obtain the location information of each patch sequence PR. This will be explained in detail below.

[0037] The user places the printing medium W on which the patch chart PT has been printed by the printing device 1 onto the base 202 of the colorimeter 201. The user then rotates the arm 204 to position the colorimeter 208 opposite each of the at least three first marker images Mi1 located on the printing medium W, either surrounding or within the first region R1, as shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the first marker images Mi1 can be, for example, a patch P located at the front end of the left edge of the first region R1, a patch P located at the rear end of the left edge of the first region R1, and a portion located at the front end of the right edge of the second region R2. The CPU 303 acquires the position information of each first marker when the colorimeter 208 is positioned opposite each first marker image Mi1, based on the rotation angles of the first link 205 and the second link 206 of the arm 204. The CPU 303 may also control the operation of the arm 204. Furthermore, there may be four or more first marker images Mi1.

[0038] Based on the three acquired first marker position information, CPU303 obtains the position information for each of the first patches Pb in the patch chart PT. In this case, since the area of ​​the first region R1, the area of ​​each patch row PR, and the area of ​​each patch P are known, the position information for each of the first patches Pb can be obtained by calculation as long as the three first marker position information is acquired.

[0039] The method for acquiring the position information of the second patch Ps is basically the same as that for the first patch Pb. The user rotates the arm 204 to position the colorimeter 208 opposite each of the at least three second marker images Mi2 located around or within the second region R2 on the printing medium W. In Figure 4, the second marker images Mi2 can be, for example, patch P located at the front end of the left end of the second region R2, patch P located at the rear end of the left end of the second region R2, and the portion located at the rear end of the right end of the second region R2. The CPU 303 acquires the second marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter 208 when it is positioned opposite each second marker image Mi2, based on the first marker position information and the rotation angles of the first link 205 and the second link 206 of the arm 204. Note that there may be four or more second marker images Mi2. Based on the acquired location information of the three second markers, CPU303 obtains the location information of each second patch Ps in the patch chart PT.

[0040] Figure 5 shows the patch column table Tp which stores patch column information. As described above, after obtaining the position information of each first patch Pb and each second patch Ps in the patch chart PT, the CPU 303 generates the patch column table Tp and stores it in the storage unit 305. As shown in Figure 5, the patch column table Tp is a table that shows for each patch column PR whether or not the second patch Ps exist, the number of patches P placed, the starting position of the patch column PR (specifically, the x and y coordinates of the patch P located upstream of the colorimetric direction Dm), and the ending position of the patch column PR (specifically, the x and y coordinates of the patch P located downstream of the colorimetric direction Dm). Based on the patch column table Tp, the CPU 303 calculates and obtains the position of each patch P in each patch column PR. The patch column table Tp already stores information on whether or not the second patch Ps exist and the number of patches P placed.

[0041] Next, we will explain the color measurement of patch P in the patch chart PT. Figure 6 shows multiple color measurement locations in one second patch Ps.

[0042] In the colorimetric system 100, when measuring the color of a patch P on a patch chart PT, the user rotates the arm 204 to position the colorimetric unit 208 opposite the patch P to be measured. In this state, the light-emitting element 211 of the colorimetric unit 208 shines light onto the patch P. The light-receiving element 212 of the colorimetric unit 208 receives the light that has been emitted from the light-emitting element 211 and reflected by the patch P. The colorimetric unit 208 measures the color of patch P based on the light received by the light-receiving element 212. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the colorimetric unit 208 performs multiple measurements on a single second patch Ps. For example, five measurements are performed on a single second patch Ps while changing the measurement position. In this case, measurements are performed at five measurement positions Mp1 to Mp5 on the second patch Ps. In the colorimetric system 100, the user can adjust the position of the colorimetric unit 208 relative to the second patch Ps by moving the arm 204 of the colorimeter 201. The colorimetric position Mp1 is located in the center of the second patch Ps, and the colorimetric positions Mp2 to Mp5 are located at each of the four corners of the second patch Ps. The diameter of the portion related to each colorimetric position is approximately the same as the lens aperture of the light-emitting element 211 in the colorimetric unit 208, for example, 4 mm to 5 mm. Although Figure 6 describes multiple colorimetric positions related to the second patch Ps, colorimetric measurements may also be performed at multiple colorimetric positions for a single first patch Pb.

[0043] The color measurement results at each measurement location are transmitted to the CPU 303 via the data input / output unit 306. The CPU 303 receives multiple color measurement results and calculates the average value of the multiple color measurement results by dividing the sum of the multiple color measurement results by the total number of measurements. In the example in Figure 6, the average value of multiple color measurement values ​​obtained by measuring at color measurement locations Mp1 to Mp5 in one second patch Ps is calculated. Here, if the color measurement unit 208 is made to measure four or more times for one second patch Ps, the CPU 303 may calculate the average value by excluding the maximum and minimum values ​​from the four or more color measurement results. For example, if the color measurement unit 208 is made to measure four times for one second patch Ps, the CPU 303 will sum the remaining two color measurement results after excluding the maximum and minimum values ​​from the four color measurement results, and calculate the average value by dividing the sum of these two color measurement results by 2. This can suppress bias in the color measurement values.

[0044] As described above, if the difference between each colorimetric value obtained by changing the colorimetric position by the colorimetric unit 208 within a single second patch Ps (for example, the maximum difference between each colorimetric value at colorimetric positions Mp1 to Mp5 in Figure 6) is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the CPU 303 may reacquire the position information of the second patch Ps. In this case, as shown in Figure 4, the second marker image Mi2 for acquiring the position information of the second patch Ps may be a patch P located at the front end of the left end of the second region R2, a patch P located at the rear end of the left end of the second region R2, and a patch P located at the rear end of the right end of the second region R2, or it may be a different patch P. The reacquisition of the position information of the first patch Pb is the same as for the second patch Ps.

[0045] Figure 7 shows a table Ta in which the color values ​​and measured values ​​of patch P are associated. In table Ta, the type, position, color value, and measured value of patch P are associated for each patch P, indicating whether it is the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps. Table Ta is stored in the storage unit 305. The CPU 303 stores the average value of the multiple measured values ​​calculated as described above as the measured value of one second patch Ps in table Ta. In this way, the average value of the multiple measured values ​​is associated with the color value of each second patch Ps. Here, the second patch Ps is a patch P generated by the control device 50 for the color specified by the user in the preview image PI described above. In other words, table Ta associates the color values ​​of the preview image PI with the average value of multiple measured values. Furthermore, since the association between the color values ​​of the preview image PI and the average value of multiple measured values ​​is changed each time color measurement is performed, it can be said that table Ta is newly generated each time color measurement is performed.

[0046] Figure 8 shows a modified example of the second marker image Mi2 in the patch chart PT. As shown in Figure 8, in the patch chart PT, the patch row PR may have a coexisting patch row PRc that includes the first patch Pb and the second patch Ps in the same row. In the coexisting patch row PRc, multiple first patches Pb are arranged consecutively on the upstream side in the colorimetric direction Dm, and multiple second patches Ps are arranged consecutively downstream in the colorimetric direction Dm from the first patch Pb located at the downstream end in the colorimetric direction Dm.

[0047] If such a coexisting patch sequence PRc exists, a new second marker image Mi2 may be added to the second marker image Mi2 in Figure 4 during the process of acquiring the second marker position information. In this case, the user moves the colorimeter 208 via the arm 204 so that either the adjacent first patch Pb or second patch Ps in the coexisting patch sequence PRc becomes the second marker image Mi2. The CPU 303 acquires the second marker position information based on the multiple second marker images Mi2, including the added second marker image Mi2.

[0048] Figure 9 shows another modified example of the second marker image Mi2 in the patch chart PT. As shown in Figure 9, in the patch chart PT, multiple second marker images Mi2 may be added to the second marker image Mi2 of Figure 4. Specifically, in the second region R2 of the patch chart PT, second patches Ps or portions located at one corner position LT1 in the transport direction Df, the other corner position LT1, and position LT2 between one corner position LT1 and the other corner position LT1 can be added as second marker images Mi2. Similarly, in the second region R2 of the patch chart PT, second patches Ps or portions located at one corner position LT1 in the movement direction Ds, the other corner position LT1, and position LT2 between one corner position LT1 and the other corner position LT1 can be added as second marker images Mi2.

[0049] Figure 10 shows an example of the number of placements of the first marker image Mi1 and the second marker image Mi2 in a patch chart PT.

[0050] In this embodiment, more second marker position information may be acquired than first marker position information. In this case, as shown in Figure 10, the number and arrangement of the first marker images Mi1 are the same as in Figure 4. There are three first marker images Mi1. In contrast, for the second marker images Mi2, for example, six additional second marker images Mi2 can be added to the three second marker images Mi2 shown in Figure 4. These six second marker images Mi2 are a second patch Ps or portion positioned to surround the second region R2. Based on the first marker images Mi1 and second marker images Mi2 arranged in this way, the first marker position information and the second marker position information are acquired. Note that the number and arrangement of the first marker images Mi1 and second marker images Mi2 are not limited to the example in Figure 10 and can be set arbitrarily.

[0051] (Second Embodiment) The printing apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment is basically the same as the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, but differs from the first embodiment in that the printing apparatus 1A has a built-in colorimeter 70. Also, the colorimetric processing by the CPU 303 in the first embodiment can be performed in the same way by the control device 50 of the second embodiment, so the explanation is omitted. In this embodiment, the calculation unit 52 corresponds to the computer, colorimetric control means, calculation means, and generation means. In the following, for the printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, and their explanations may be omitted.

[0052] Figure 11 is a plan view showing a printing apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment. Figure 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the printing apparatus 1A in Figure 11. As shown in Figure 11, in addition to the configuration of the printing apparatus 1, the printing apparatus 1A includes another transport roller 31 having the same function as the transport roller 31 in the printing apparatus 1, a pair of guide rails 60, a scanning device 65 having a scanning motor 61, an endless belt 62, a pulley 63, and a colorimeter 70. The colorimeter 70, like the colorimeter 201 in the first embodiment, has a base 202, a first rotary joint 203, an arm 204, a second rotary joint 207, a colorimeter 208, a linear joint 209, and a white reference 210.

[0053] A pair of guide rails 60 are positioned downstream of the carriage 41 in the transport direction Df. The pair of guide rails 60 extend in the movement direction Ds. The transport rollers 31 are positioned downstream of the pair of guide rails 60 in the transport direction Df. An endless belt 62 extends in the movement direction Ds and is attached to the base 202 of the colorimeter 70 and is attached to the scanning motor 61 via a pulley 63. When the scanning motor 61 is driven, the endless belt 62 travels, and the base 202 reciprocates along the guide rails 60 in the movement direction Ds. This causes the base 202 to move the colorimeter 208 in the movement direction Ds. The base 202 corresponds to the moving part.

[0054] As shown in Figure 12, the control device 50 is electrically connected to the scanning motor 61 via the scanning drive circuit 64 and controls the drive of the scanning motor 61. This controls the movement of the colorimeter 208 by the base 202 in the movement direction Ds. The control device 50 is also connected to a rotary actuator 91, which is composed of, for example, a motor, via the rotary drive circuit 90. This controls the rotational movement of the arm 204 by the rotary joints 203 and 207 described above.

[0055] Furthermore, the colorimeter 70 includes a linear drive circuit 80, a linear actuator 81 (including, for example, a motor) attached to the linear joint 209, and a linear sensor 82 to move the colorimeter 208 vertically. The linear actuator 81 moves the colorimeter 208 up and down, bringing it into contact with or away from the printing medium W. The control device 50 is connected to the linear actuator 81 via the linear drive circuit 80 and also to the linear sensor 82. The linear sensor 82 is, for example, an encoder, and detects the amount of movement of the linear actuator 81. The control device 50 controls the operation of the linear actuator 81 based on the detection result from the linear sensor 82. As a result, the vertical movement of the colorimeter 208 is controlled based on the detection result from the linear sensor 82.

[0056] Thus, the printing apparatus 1A includes, as means for relatively moving the printing medium W and the colorimeter 208, a transport device 30 for transporting the printing medium W in the transport direction Df, a base 202 for moving the colorimeter 208 along the movement direction Ds, a rotary actuator 91 for moving the colorimeter 208 in the movement direction Ds and the transport direction Df, and a linear actuator 81 for moving the colorimeter 208 in the vertical direction.

[0057] Figure 13 shows an example of a patch chart PT printed on the printing medium W by the printing device 1A in Figure 11. Unlike the patch chart PT in the colorimetric system 100, the colorimetric direction Dm in the patch chart PT of Figure 13 is parallel to the direction moving from one side (left) to the other side (right) of the movement direction Ds.

[0058] The position of patches P in the patch chart PT in Figure 13 is the same as in the first embodiment (Figure 4, etc.) in that it can be defined by columns and rows, but the position in the left-right direction of the patch chart PT is defined by rows, and the position in the front-back direction is defined by columns. The first region R1 and the second region R2 of the patch chart PT are adjacent in the transport direction Df. The second region R2 is located upstream of the first region R1 in the transport direction Df. The first patch Pb and the second patch Ps are arranged, for example, in the first region R1 or the second region R2, starting from the downstream side of the transport direction Df and one side (right side) of the movement direction Ds. This arrangement is carried out for each patch row PR toward the upstream side of the transport direction Df. The control device 50 counts time from after the patch chart PT is printed on the printing medium W by the ejection head 20.

[0059] In this embodiment as well, similar to Figure 6 of the first embodiment, the control device 50 causes the colorimeter 208 to perform color measurements multiple times on a single second patch Ps. In this case, the control device 50 controls the base 202 and the arm 204 in each of the multiple measurements to change the color measurement position of the colorimeter 208 within a single second patch Ps. The control device 50 receives the multiple color measurement results from the colorimeter 208 and calculates the average value of the multiple color measurement results. The control device 50 stores the average value of the multiple calculated color measurement values ​​in a table Ta stored in the storage unit 53 as the color measurement value for a single second patch Ps. As a result, the average value of the multiple color measurement values ​​is associated with the color value of each second patch Ps.

[0060] Figure 14 shows the relationship between the number of color measurements and calibration of the colorimeter 208. Figure 15 shows the plotted data of one colorimetric value waveform WF in Figure 14. As shown in Figure 15, the colorimetric values ​​are represented as plotted data, but in Figure 14, for simplification, this plotted data is represented as a waveform curve.

[0061] As shown in Figure 14, if the colorimeter 208 continues to measure the color of patch P continuously, the brightness of the measured color decreases. Therefore, in the printing apparatus 1A, the colorimeter 208 is calibrated after measuring the color of patch P a predetermined number of times. In Figure 14, N1 indicates the timing of the first calibration, which is performed after the predetermined number of color measurements of the first patch Pb have been completed, and N2 indicates the timing of the second calibration, which is performed after the first calibration and after the predetermined number of color measurements of the first patch Pb have been completed.

[0062] On the other hand, in order to perform calibration before measuring the color of the second patch Ps (i.e., measuring the color of particularly important patch P), the third calibration is performed at a time N3 when fewer color measurements have been completed than the number of color measurements used as the basis for the first and second calibrations. In this embodiment, for example, patches P from the 730th onward become the second patch Ps, so time N3 corresponds to the point when, for example, the color measurement of the 729th first patch Pb has been completed.

[0063] However, as shown in Figure 14, after each calibration is completed, the brightness of the measured colorimetric values ​​tends to be relatively high for a predetermined number of measurements, but after that, the brightness of the measured colorimetric values ​​tends to be relatively low. Therefore, in order to further improve the reliability of the measured colorimetric values, color measurement for the second patch Ps is performed by measuring colorimetric values ​​for a predetermined number of measurements after each calibration. For example, in Figure 14, color measurement for the second patch Ps is performed by a predetermined number of measurements between the calibration performed at time N3 and the calibration performed at time N4, and by a predetermined number of measurements between the calibration performed at time N4 and the calibration performed at time N5. The same applies from time N5 onward.

[0064] Figure 16 is a flowchart showing the color measurement method by the control device 50 according to this embodiment, and Figure 17 is a flowchart showing the subroutine for the position correction process in Figure 16. The flowchart in Figure 16 is executed by the control device 50 when, for example, the user instructs the user to rewrite table Ta. Before the processing in the flowchart of Figure 16, the control device 50 obtains patch creation conditions from an external device 200 or input device 15, etc. Patch creation conditions include, for example, the size or type of the printing medium W for printing patch P, the size of patch P, etc. Subsequently, the control device 50 forms a first patch Pb in the patch chart PT based on the above patch creation conditions, and also obtains information (color information) related to the preview image PI corresponding to the position specified by the user from the image data to form a second patch Ps in the patch chart PT.

[0065] As shown in Figure 16, the control device 50 first obtains color measurement conditions, including the number of patches P in the patch chart PT, the type of light-emitting element 211 of the colorimetric unit 208, and the user's observation field of view angle, from an external device 200 or an input device 15, etc. (Step S1).

[0066] Next, the control device 50 acquires positional information for the second patch Ps (step S2). In this case, the control device 50 acquires positional information for the second patch Ps for each patch sequence PR from an external device 200 or an input device 15, etc.

[0067] Next, the control device 50 performs a position correction process (step S3). As shown in Figure 17, in the position correction process, the control device 50 first has the printable medium W on which the patch chart PT has been printed by the ejection head 20 transported toward the colorimeter 70 by the transport device 30. Then, the control device 50 acquires position information for multiple first markers (step S31). In this case, the control device 50 controls the rotary actuator 91 to rotate the arm 204 and controls the linear actuator 81 to move the colorimeter 208 up and down via the linear joint 209 to position the colorimeter 208 toward each of the first marker images Mi1 specified by the external device 200 or the input device 15.

[0068] Next, based on the acquired position information of the second patch Ps, the control device 50 controls the rotary actuator 91 to rotate the arm 204 and controls the linear actuator 81 to move the colorimeter 208 up and down via the linear joint 209 to position the colorimeter 208 opposite each of the second marker images Mi2 specified by the external device 200 or the input device 15. At this time, the control device 50 acquires the position information of each second marker (step S32).

[0069] Then, the control device 50 creates the patch column table Tp shown in Figure 5 based on the acquired first marker position information and second marker position information (step S33).

[0070] Returning to Figure 16, the control device 50 then performs calibration of the colorimetric unit 208 (step S4). In this case, the control device 50 performs calibration based on the colorimetric conditions acquired in step S1.

[0071] Next, the control device 50 acquires information for each patch column PR as patch column information based on the patch column table Tp above, indicating whether or not the second patch Ps is included in each patch column PR (step S5). Then, the control device 50 determines whether or not the second patch Ps is included in each patch column PR (step S6). If the second patch Ps is not included in the patch column PR (i.e., the patch column PR relating to the first column in the patch chart PT, etc.: No in step S6), the control device 50 causes the colorimeter 208 to perform color measurement (step S9). In this case, since the only patch P included in the patch column PR is the first patch Pb, color measurement is performed for that patch column PR without waiting for the predetermined time described later to elapse.

[0072] On the other hand, if the second patch Ps is included in patch sequence PR (Yes in step S6), the control device 50 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the patch chart PT was printed on the printing medium W (step S7). The case where the second patch Ps is included in the coexisting patch sequence PRc also falls under the case where the second patch Ps is included in the patch sequence PR. If a predetermined time has elapsed since the patch chart PT was printed on the printing medium W (Yes in step S7), the control device 50 causes the colorimeter 208 to perform color measurement on the patch sequence PR. Conversely, if a predetermined time has not elapsed since the patch chart PT was printed on the printing medium W (No in step S7), the control device 50 waits until the predetermined time has elapsed (step S8), and then causes the colorimeter 208 to perform color measurement on the patch sequence PR (step S9).

[0073] The control device 50 then determines whether or not it has completed color measurement for all patch rows PR in the patch chart PT (step S10). If color measurement for all patch rows PR is completed (Yes in step S10), the control device 50 completes the process. On the other hand, if color measurement for all patch rows PR is not completed (No in step S10), the control device 50 returns to the process in step S5 and repeats the subsequent processes.

[0074] As described above, according to the colorimetric system 100 of the first embodiment and the printing apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the colorimetric unit 208 measures the color of a single second patch Ps multiple times, and the average value of the multiple measurement results is calculated. Then, using the average value as the measured color value for a single second patch Ps, a table Ta is generated that associates the color values ​​of the image with the measured color value. This suppresses bias in the measured color value for a single second patch Ps, thereby improving the accuracy of color measurement and color calibration.

[0075] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the control device 50 can move the base 202 back and forth along the guide rail 60 in the movement direction Ds during each of the multiple color measurements. This allows the color measurement unit 208 to move in the movement direction Ds. This makes it easy to change the color measurement position by the color measurement unit 208 within a single second patch Ps.

[0076] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments of this invention, when colorimetric measurements are performed four or more times, the average value can be calculated by excluding the maximum and minimum values ​​from the four or more colorimetric measurement results. This makes it possible to suppress bias in the measured colorimetric values.

[0077] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the position information of each first patch Pb in the patch chart PT is calculated based on the acquired first marker position information. This eliminates the need to measure the positions of all first patches Pb in the first region R1, making the process more efficient.

[0078] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, the position information of each second patch Ps in the patch chart PT is calculated based on the second marker position information. This eliminates the need to measure the positions of all second patches Ps in the second region R2, making the process more efficient.

[0079] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, if the difference between each colorimetric value obtained by changing the colorimetric position by the colorimetric unit 208 within a single second patch Ps is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the positional information of the first patch Pb and the second patch Ps may be reacquired. This makes it possible to obtain more appropriate positional information for the first patch Pb and the second patch Ps.

[0080] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, in the process of acquiring second marker position information, the second marker position information may be acquired by using a second patch Ps positioned at one corner position LT1, the other corner position LT2, and the position between one corner position LT1 and the other corner position LT2 in the second region R2 as the second marker image Mi2. This makes it possible to acquire appropriate position information for the first patch Pb and the second patch Ps even if, for example, distortion occurs in the center of the transport direction Df of the printing medium W.

[0081] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, in the process of acquiring the second marker position information, the second marker position information may be acquired by using either the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps adjacent to each other in the coexisting patch sequence PRc as the second marker image Mi2. In this embodiment, where the placement of the second patch Ps begins from the middle of the patch sequence PR, appropriate position information for the first patch Pb and the second patch Ps can be obtained by acquiring the second marker position information described above.

[0082] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, more second marker position information is acquired than first marker position information. This makes it possible to appropriately acquire position information for the second patch Ps, for which relatively high-precision color measurement is desired.

[0083] In the second embodiment, the control device 50 causes the colorimeter 208 to perform color measurement after a predetermined time has elapsed since the patch chart PT was printed on the printing medium W. This allows color measurement to be performed after the printed patch chart PT has been fixed to the printing medium W. This makes it possible to obtain more appropriate colorimetric values.

[0084] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, color measurement of the second patch Ps is performed by measuring the colorimetric unit 208 a predetermined number of times after calibration. This allows the color of the second patch Ps to be measured at a stage where the brightness of the measured colorimetric value is relatively high, thereby improving the reliability of the measured colorimetric value of the second patch Ps.

[0085] (modified version) The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following:

[0086] Figure 18 shows a modified colorimeter 70A of the colorimeter 70 in Figure 11. In the colorimeter 70 of Figure 11, an arm 204 having two links (first link 205 and second link 206) is used, but it is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 18, a colorimeter 70A having only one link 206 may also be used. In this case, the number of components to be controlled can be reduced compared to the colorimeter 70 of Figure 11.

[0087] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, if the patch P included in the patch sequence PR is only the first patch Pb, color measurement is performed without waiting for a predetermined time to elapse, and if the patch sequence PR includes the second patch Ps, color measurement is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed. However, it is not limited to this. The predetermined time may include a first predetermined time for color measurement of the first patch Pb, and a second predetermined time which is longer than the first predetermined time for color measurement of the second patch Ps. This makes it possible to provide not only a waiting time for color measurement of the second patch Ps, but also a waiting time for color measurement of the first patch Pb. In this case, the control device 50 determines whether a first predetermined time has elapsed since the patch chart PT was printed on the printing medium W, and also determines whether a second predetermined time has elapsed. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the control device 50 causes the color measurement unit 208 to perform color measurement on the patch sequence PR which includes only the first patch Pb. Furthermore, after a second predetermined time has elapsed, the control device 50 causes the colorimeter 208 to perform color measurement on the patch sequence PR (including the coexisting patch sequence PRc) which includes the second patch Ps.

[0088] Alternatively, the control device 50 may cause the colorimeter 208 to measure the color of either the first patch Pb or the second patch Ps for each patch sequence PR, in order of the shortest time from the total time of the first predetermined time corresponding to each first patch Pb and the total time of the second predetermined time corresponding to each second patch Ps. In this case, unlike the above embodiment in which the color measurement of the first patch Pb is performed before the color measurement of the second patch Ps, depending on the total time, the color measurement of the second patch Ps may be performed before the color measurement of the first patch Pb. By performing color measurements based on the magnitude of each total time in this way, the sum of the total time for measuring the color of all first patches Pb and the total time for measuring the color of all second patches Ps can be shortened. This makes the processing more efficient.

[0089] Furthermore, although an inkjet printer was given as an example of the printing device 1,1A in the above embodiment, the printing device 1,1A is not limited to this, and may be other printers such as a laser printer or a thermal printer. A laser printer includes a printing unit. The printing unit of a laser printer includes an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum or a 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 the printing medium, and a fixing unit such as a fixing roller or fixing belt that heat-fixes the toner transferred to the printing medium. The laser printer is not limited to the direct tandem type described above, but may also be an intermediate transfer type laser printer, in which 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 comprises 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.

[0090] Furthermore, although the above embodiment uses a serial head system for the printing devices 1 and 1A, it is not limited to this, and a line head system may also be used.

[0091] Furthermore, although the above embodiment provides one or more links to the colorimeters 70 and 70A, a configuration may be made in which only the linear joint 209 is provided on the base 202 without providing such links. In this case, the movement of the colorimeter 208 in the movement direction Ds is performed by the base 202, and the vertical movement of the colorimeter 208 is performed by the linear actuator 81 of the linear joint 209.

[0092] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 6 of the above embodiment, the average value of multiple colorimetric values ​​obtained by measuring at colorimetric positions Mp1 to Mp5 in one second patch Ps is calculated, and the average value is calculated by dividing the sum of the colorimetric results measured at colorimetric positions Mp1 to Mp5 by 5. However, this is not the only way. Since colorimetric position Mp1 is located in the second patch Ps more than colorimetric positions Mp2 to Mp5, it may be weighted more than colorimetric positions Mp2 to Mp5. In other words, a weighted average value of multiple colorimetric values ​​obtained by measuring at colorimetric positions Mp1 to Mp5 in one second patch Ps may be calculated.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the CPU 303 acquired the position information of each of the second patches Ps in the patch chart PT based on the three acquired second marker position information, but it is not limited to this. The CPU 303 may also acquire the position information of each of the second patches Ps in the patch chart PT based on the first marker position information and the second marker position information.

[0094] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the control device 50 executes the flowchart in Figure 16 when instructed by the user to rewrite table Ta, but is not limited to this. The control device 50 may also execute the flowchart in Figure 16 when it receives a print job. When the control device 50 executes the flowchart in Figure 16 when it receives a print job, after color measurement for all patch rows PR is completed (Yes in step S10), it then starts printing on the print medium W based on the print job. The flowchart in Figure 16 may be terminated when printing on the print medium W is finished. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1,1A printing device 20 Discharge heads 50 Control device 100 colorimetric systems 202 Base 208 Color measurement section LT1 corner position LT2 Position between each corner position Mi1 First Marker Image Mi2 Second Marker Image Mp1~Mp5 Color measurement position P Patch Pb Patch 1 Ps. 2nd Patch PT Patch Chart R1 1st area R2 2nd area Ta Table W Printing medium

Claims

1. A printing unit that prints a patch chart onto the printing medium, A colorimeter unit measures the color of a first patch, which is a plurality of patches corresponding to a predetermined plurality of colors, located in a first area of ​​the patch chart printed on the printing medium, and one or more second patches, which are patches for colors specified by the user, located in a second area different from the first area of ​​the patch chart. A moving unit for moving the color measurement unit relative to the patch chart, A control device is provided, The control device is A process of causing the colorimeter to perform multiple color measurements on one of the second patches, The process of calculating the average value of the multiple color measurement results, The process involves generating a table that associates the color values ​​of an image with the measured color values, using the average value as the color value in one of the second patches, and further, In each of the aforementioned multiple times, the process is executed to control the moving unit and change the color measurement position by the color measurement unit within the single second patch, and, A process for acquiring first marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter when the colorimeter is positioned opposite each of at least three first marker images arranged on the printing medium at positions surrounding the first region or within the first region, The process of obtaining the position information of each of the first patches in the patch chart based on the first marker position information is further executed, and When obtaining the location information of the second patch, A process for acquiring second marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter when the colorimeter is positioned opposite at least one second marker image located on the printing medium at a position surrounding the second region or at a position within the second region, A printing apparatus that further performs the process of acquiring the position information of each of the second patches in the patch chart based on the second marker position information.

2. The control device causes the colorimeter to perform color measurements four or more times on one of the second patches. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the average value is calculated by subtracting the maximum and minimum values ​​from the four or more color measurement results.

3. The control device is The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if the difference between each color measurement value obtained by changing the color measurement position by the color measurement unit within one second patch is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the position information of the first patch and the second patch is reacquired.

4. The control device is The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the process of acquiring the second marker position information, the second patch, which is placed at one corner position, the other corner position, and the position between the one corner position and the other corner position in the second region, is used as the second marker image to acquire the second marker position information.

5. The aforementioned patch chart is composed of multiple rows of patches arranged in a straight line, with each row of patches being arranged in parallel. The aforementioned patch column has a coexisting patch column that includes the first patch and the second patch in the same column. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device, in the process of acquiring the second marker position information, acquires the second marker position information by using either the first patch or the second patch adjacent to each other in the coexisting patch sequence as the second marker image.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device acquires more second marker position information than first marker position information.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device causes the colorimeter to perform color measurement after a predetermined time has elapsed since the patch chart was printed on the printing medium.

8. The predetermined time includes a first predetermined time for measuring the color of the first patch and a second predetermined time for measuring the color of the second patch. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second predetermined time is longer than the first predetermined time.

9. The predetermined time includes a first predetermined time for color measurement of the first patch, which is determined for each first patch, and a second predetermined time for color measurement of the second patch, which is determined for each second patch. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control device causes the colorimeter to measure the color of the first patch or the second patch in order of the shortest time from each of the first predetermined time and each of the second predetermined time.

10. The control device is Further, a process is performed to calibrate the measurement accuracy of the color value by the colorimeter. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color measurement of the second patch is performed by measuring the color of the color measuring unit up to a predetermined number of times after calibration.

11. A colorimetric method using a colorimetric unit that measures the color of a first patch, which is a plurality of patches corresponding to a predetermined plurality of colors, located in a first area of ​​a patch chart printed on a printing medium, and one or more second patches, which are patches for a color specified by a user, located in a second area different from the first area of ​​the patch chart, The colorimeter is made to measure the color of one of the second patches multiple times. The average value of the multiple color measurement results is calculated, The average value is used as the colorimetric value in one of the second patches, and a table is generated that associates the color values ​​of the image with the colorimetric value. In each of the aforementioned multiple measurements, the color measurement position by the color measurement unit is changed within the single second patch, and The colorimeter is positioned opposite each of the at least three first marker images that are located on the printing medium surrounding the first region or within the first region, and the colorimeter is acquired as first marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter. Based on the first marker position information, the position information of each of the first patches in the patch chart is obtained, and, When obtaining the location information of the second patch, The colorimeter is positioned opposite at least one second marker image located on the printing medium surrounding the second region or within the second region, and second marker position information is obtained, which is the position information of the colorimeter. A colorimetric method for obtaining the positional information of each of the second patches in the patch chart based on the positional information of the second marker.

12. A color measurement program to be executed by a computer in a printing apparatus comprising: a colorimeter unit that measures the color of first patches, which are a plurality of patches corresponding to a predetermined plurality of colors, arranged in a first area of ​​a patch chart printed on a printing medium; one or more second patches, which are patches for a color specified by the user, arranged in a second area different from the first area of ​​the patch chart; a movement unit that moves the colorimeter unit relative to the patch chart; and a control device that controls the colorimeter unit, wherein the computer executes the colorimeter program, The aforementioned computer, A color measurement control means that causes the color measurement unit to perform multiple color measurements on one of the second patches, A calculation means for calculating the average value of the multiple color measurement results, A generation means that generates a table associating the color values ​​of an image with the measured color values, using the average value as the color value in one of the second patches. In each of the aforementioned multiple times, means for controlling the moving part to change the color measurement position by the color measurement unit within the one second patch, Means for acquiring first marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter when the colorimeter is positioned opposite each of at least three first marker images arranged on the printing medium at a position surrounding the first region or at a position within the first region, Means for acquiring the position information of each of the first patches in the patch chart based on the first marker position information, When obtaining the location information of the second patch, Means for acquiring second marker position information, which is the position information of the colorimeter when the colorimeter is positioned opposite at least one second marker image located on the printing medium at a position surrounding the second region or at a position within the second region, and A colorimetric program that functions as a means for acquiring the positional information of each of the second patches in the patch chart based on the positional information of the second marker.

Images