Inkjet Recording Transport Calibration for Roller Error Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording devices face challenges in accurately adjusting transport amounts due to transport roller errors, such as eccentricity, leading to streaky density unevenness at the boundaries of recorded images.
Innovation Solution
A recording device and method that utilize a transport roller with a different circumference length from the nozzle array length, performing TP recording control to arrange test patterns with varying liquid ejection amounts at patch boundaries, and adjusting transport distances based on nozzle array and circumference lengths to minimize the impact of transport roller errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the nozzle array length is made equal to the transport roller circumference length, then the test pattern recording can be simplified, but transport roller errors such as eccentricity still cause fluctuation in transport amount and affect recording accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately sets the nozzle array length to be different from the transport roller circumference length, creating an asymmetric relationship between these two dimensions. This asymmetry ensures that test patterns are recorded at different positions on the medium, allowing the system to capture and compensate for transport roller errors such as eccentricity and non-perfect circularity, thereby improving transport amount measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the transport roller is made perfectly circular and without eccentricity, then transport amount accuracy would be improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the recording system to automatically detect and compensate for transport roller errors through test pattern recording and evaluation. The system self-calibrates by measuring actual transport amounts using test patterns and adjusting recording parameters accordingly, eliminating the need for extremely precise transport roller manufacturing while maintaining high recording accuracy.
3Productivity
If test pattern recording is performed with the nozzle array length equal to the transport roller circumference, then fewer test patterns are needed, but the obtained adjustment values are affected by transport roller errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs test pattern recording at multiple different positions on the medium by utilizing the relationship between nozzle array length and transport roller circumference. This preliminary action of recording test patterns at various positions allows the system to evaluate transport roller errors and obtain accurate adjustment values before actual recording begins, ensuring both efficiency and precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording device, including a transport roller whose circumference length is different from nozzle array length in a transport direction, performs TP recording control to record a group of test patterns, in which a plurality of test patterns including a first patch and a second patch with different positions in the transport direction are arranged in a main scanning direction, and in which an amount of liquid ejected for a boundary area between the first patch and the second patch is different for each test pattern, wherein, in the TP recording control, records a first TP group and a second TP group at different positions in the transport direction onto a medium, transports the medium by a first distance based on the nozzle array length as a transport between the recording of the first patch and the second patch of the TP, and, as a transport between the recording of the second patch of the first TP group and the recording of the first patch of the second TP group, transports the medium by a second distance, which is a difference between an integer multiple of the circumference length and two times the first distance.