JP4706788B2 - Printing apparatus and printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing program.

  When printing is performed by a print head configured by arranging a plurality of nozzle rows in the sub-scanning direction (moving direction of the print medium) in the main scanning direction (scanning direction of the print head), It is necessary to accurately adjust the nozzle row so that it is horizontal with respect to the sub-scanning direction.

  That is, when the nozzle row has a deviation with respect to the sub-scanning direction (when the print head has an inclination), as shown in FIG. 31, the nozzles at the same position in different nozzle rows. Since the landing positions of the ink droplets ejected from the printing paper on the printing paper are different, hue deviation and banding (streaky printing unevenness occurring in the main scanning direction) may also be caused.

  In the example of FIG. 31, the print head 12 is provided with eight nozzle rows A to H, and each nozzle row includes a plurality of (for example, 180) nozzles. In this figure, the nozzle row is represented as a line segment. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12 has a shift of an angle α from the main scanning direction, for example, the landing position of the ink droplets ejected from the uppermost nozzle of the nozzle row A, and the nozzle The ink droplets ejected from the uppermost nozzles in the row H are displaced by a distance d, so that the hue is misaligned due to a poor color mixture or banding occurs.

  Therefore, in order to eliminate the inclination of the print head, a method for detecting the inclination of the print head by, for example, printing a vertical ruled line has been conventionally proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-084777 (claims, summary)

  By the way, although the method shown in Patent Document 1 can detect whether the print head is tilted or not, there is a problem that the tilt amount cannot be quantitatively known.

  For this reason, even if the presence of an inclination is detected, it is unclear how much the inclination should be corrected in the manufacturing process, so trial and error is necessary, and the work takes time and the work efficiency decreases. There is a problem. In addition, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the product increases as the work efficiency decreases.

  The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing program capable of quantitatively knowing the inclination of the print head. It is.

  In order to solve the problem, the present invention has a print head in which a plurality of nozzle rows formed by arranging a plurality of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction are arranged in the main scanning direction, and corresponds to image data to be printed. In a printing apparatus that prints a desired image on a print medium by ejecting the ink from the nozzles, a set of the tilt amount of the print head in the scanning plane and the nozzle position in the sub-scanning direction are equal in the tilt amount. Storage means for storing information relating to the first nozzle array and the second nozzle array, which are nozzle arrays, in association with each other, and the first nozzle array and the second nozzle at predetermined inclination amounts stored in the storage means The first correction pattern is printed by the reading means for reading out information relating to the nozzle row of the first nozzle row and the first nozzle row specified by the information read by the reading means. The second correction pattern is printed in the vicinity of the first correction pattern by the first correction pattern printing means and the second nozzle row specified by the information read by the reading means. 2 correction pattern printing means.

  For this reason, it is possible to quantitatively determine the inclination of the print head.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are patterns having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction. For this reason, it is possible to easily observe the overlap by using a pattern having a certain width.

  In addition to the above-described invention, another invention is configured such that the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are each printed with a plurality of patterns having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction. ing. For this reason, it is possible to easily obtain the inclination of the print head by comparatively observing these plural patterns.

  In another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are ruled lines extending in the main scanning direction. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain the inclination of the print head based on how the ruled lines are overlapped, and it is possible to suppress ink consumption as compared with a pattern having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction.

  According to another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, the reading means reads information on the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row at each inclination amount stored in the storage means, and performs the first correction. The pattern printing unit and the second correction pattern printing unit print a plurality of patterns corresponding to the inclination amounts read by the reading unit. For this reason, the inclination of the print head can be easily obtained by comparing and referring to the plurality of patterns.

  According to another invention, in addition to the above-described invention, each of the plurality of patterns is printed so as to be in a certain arrangement state when the inclination of the print head is a predetermined amount. For this reason, it is possible to find the inclination of the print head easily and quickly by searching for a pattern in a predetermined arrangement state from a plurality of patterns.

  In addition to the above-described invention, in another invention, the nozzle row has two types of nozzle rows in which the head position of the nozzle in the sub-scanning direction is shifted forward and backward, and the first nozzle row is one of the nozzle rows. In the case of the type of nozzle row, the second nozzle row is selected from the other type of nozzle row. Therefore, it is possible to easily and quickly obtain the inclination of the print head having two types of nozzle rows.

  In addition to the above-mentioned invention, another invention is a detection means for optically detecting the states of the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern, and a first correction for detection detected by the detection means. And a calculation means for calculating the inclination of the print head in accordance with the state of the pattern and the second correction pattern. For this reason, the inclination of the print head can be obtained automatically and accurately.

  Further, the present invention has a print head in which a plurality of nozzle rows formed by arranging a plurality of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction are arranged in the main scanning direction, and ink corresponding to image data to be printed is output from the nozzles. In a printing method of a printing apparatus that prints a desired image on a printing medium by discharging, a set of nozzle rows in which the inclination amount of the print head in the scanning plane is equal to the nozzle position in the sub-scanning direction at the inclination amount A step of reading out information relating to the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row at a predetermined inclination amount from a storage means which stores information relating to the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row in association with each other. And a first correction pattern for printing the first correction pattern by the first nozzle row specified by the information read in the reading step. A second correction pattern for printing the second correction pattern in proximity to the first correction pattern by the second nozzle row specified by the information read in the print step and the read step And a printing step.

  For this reason, it is possible to quantitatively determine the inclination of the print head.

  Printing is performed by ejecting ink corresponding to the image data to be printed from the nozzle having a print head in which a plurality of nozzle rows formed by arranging a plurality of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction are arranged in the main scanning direction. In a computer-readable printing program for causing a computer to perform a process of printing a desired image on a medium, the computer is configured such that the amount of inclination of the print head in the scanning plane is equal to the nozzle position in the sub-scanning direction at the amount of inclination. Storage means for storing information relating to a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row as a set of nozzle rows in association with each other; a first nozzle row at a predetermined inclination amount stored in the storage means; Read means for reading information relating to the second nozzle row, and the first specified by the information read by the read means The first correction pattern printing unit that prints the first correction pattern by the nozzle row, and the second nozzle row that is specified by the information read by the reading unit are close to the first correction pattern. The second correction pattern printing means for printing the second correction pattern is made to function.

  For this reason, it is possible to quantitatively determine the inclination of the print head.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to quantitatively determine the inclination of the print head.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the print head of the printer shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a control circuit of the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structural example of the computer shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode when the printing head of the printer shown in FIG. 1 is attached in the state inclined. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correction pattern that is printed when detecting the tilt of the print head in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the parameter which shows the inclination of the print head shown in FIG. FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a correction pattern shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating a state in which two types of rectangles are printed in an orderly manner, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating two types of rectangles overlapping and having a gap. It is a figure which shows the state printed by doing. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing executed when the inclination of the print head of the printer is detected in the computer shown in FIG. 1. 1 is a table that is referred to when the correction pattern shown in FIG. 6 is printed in the printer shown in FIG. 1, and shows the relationship between the inclination of the print head, the first target nozzle, and the second target nozzle row. FIG. In the printer shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case a print head has inclination of 105 micrometers clockwise . FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between nozzles and patterns printed by a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row when the correction pattern shown in FIG. 6 is printed. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a pattern to be printed and nozzles when the correction pattern illustrated in FIG. 6 is printed. In the printer shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case a print head has a 70-micrometer inclination clockwise . In the printer shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case a print head has inclination only 35 micrometers clockwise . In the printer shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case a printing head has an inclination of 35 micrometers counterclockwise . In the printer shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case a print head has an inclination only 70 micrometers counterclockwise . In the printer shown in FIG. 1, it is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case a printing head has an inclination of 35 micrometers counterclockwise . FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print head used in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1 and having six rows of nozzles. 19 is a table that is referred to when the correction pattern shown in FIG. 6 is printed by the print head shown in FIG. 19, and the relationship between the inclination of the print head, the first target nozzle, and the second target nozzle row. FIG. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case the print head shown in FIG. 19 has only a 105 micrometer inclination clockwise . It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a nozzle in case the printing head shown in FIG. 19 inclines only by 70 micrometers clockwise . FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of nozzles when the print head illustrated in FIG. 19 is inclined by 35 μm clockwise . FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of nozzles when the print head illustrated in FIG. 19 has an inclination of 35 μm counterclockwise . FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of nozzles when the print head illustrated in FIG. 19 has an inclination of 70 μm counterclockwise . FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of nozzles when the print head illustrated in FIG. 19 is inclined by 105 μm counterclockwise . FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print head used in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1 and having the same nozzle positions in the sub-scanning direction. Print head shown in FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the nozzles when having an inclination only 140μm clockwise. 27 is a table that is referred to when the correction pattern shown in FIG. 6 is printed by the print head shown in FIG. 27, and includes the inclination of the print head, the first target nozzle row, and the second target nozzle row. It is a figure which shows a relationship. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a correction pattern printed when detecting the tilt of the print head in the printer illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the inclination of a print head, and the parameter of each part.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, an outline of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this specification, a combination of the printer 22 and the computer 90 is referred to as a “printing apparatus”.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer 22 constituting the printing apparatus, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the details of the print head 12, and FIG. 3 shows the main part of the printer 22 with a control circuit 40 as a center. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 22 reciprocates a carriage 31 in the axial direction of the paper feed roller 26 by a sub-scan feed mechanism that transports a print paper P that is a printing medium by a paper feed motor 23 and a carriage motor 24. And a main scanning feed mechanism. Here, the feed direction of the printing paper P by the sub-scan feed mechanism is called a sub-scan direction, and the moving direction of the carriage 31 by the main scan feed mechanism is called a main scan direction.

  The printer 22 is mounted on the carriage 31 and includes a print head unit 60 including the print head 12, a head drive mechanism that drives the print head unit 60 to control ink ejection and dot formation, and these papers. A control circuit 40 that controls transmission / reception of signals to / from the feed motor 23, carriage motor 24, print head unit 60, and touch panel 32 is provided.

  Next, the configuration of the print head 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 31 has a cartridge 71 containing dark yellow (DY) ink, a cartridge 72 containing light magenta (LM) ink, a cartridge 73 containing light cyan (LC) ink, Seven cartridges, a cartridge 74 containing black (K) ink, a cartridge 75 containing cyan (C) ink, a cartridge 76 containing magenta (M) ink, and a cartridge 77 containing yellow (Y) ink Ink cartridges 71 to 77 are detachably mounted.

  A print head 12 is provided below the carriage 31. In the print head 12, nozzles as ink discharge locations are arranged in a line in the transport direction of the printing paper P, and a nozzle line corresponding to each color ink is formed.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the nozzles Nz in the print head 12. As shown in the drawing, the print head 12 is formed with eight rows of nozzle rows A to H formed by arranging 180 nozzles Nz in a row in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction. The nozzles Nz belonging to a pair of adjacent nozzle rows (for example, A and B) among the eight nozzle rows A to H are shifted from each other by a predetermined pitch in the sub-scanning direction, and every other row The nozzles Nz belonging to the nozzle row (for example, A and C) are arranged at the same position in the sub-scanning direction.

  In the print head 12 according to the present embodiment, the ink supplied to each of the eight nozzle rows A to H is a nozzle located on the center side of the print head 12 in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. From the rows D and E to the nozzle rows A and H located on the end side, the color changes from dark to light.

  Specifically, a black ink is ejected from a pair of adjacent nozzle rows D and E located at the center of the print head 12 in the main scanning direction, and a pair of nozzles located outside these nozzle rows D and E. Cyan ink is ejected from the nozzle arrays C and F, and magenta ink is ejected from the pair of nozzle arrays B and G located outside the nozzle arrays C and F. Yellow ink is ejected from a pair of nozzle rows A and H located adjacent to the outside.

  Here, the black ink is black ink (K), the cyan ink is cyan ink (C) or light cyan ink (LC), and the magenta ink is magenta ink (M) or light magenta ink (LM). The yellow ink is yellow ink (Y) or dark yellow ink (DY).

  A piezoelectric element that is one of electrostrictive elements and excellent in responsiveness is arranged for each nozzle in a nozzle row that is provided below the carriage 31 and is associated with each ink. The piezo element is installed at a position in contact with a member that forms an ink passage that guides ink to the nozzle. Piezo elements have a crystal structure that is distorted by the application of voltage, and perform electro-mechanical energy conversion at an extremely high speed.

  In the present embodiment, by applying a voltage having a predetermined time width between the electrodes provided at both ends of the piezo element, the piezo element is extended for the voltage application time, and one side wall of the ink passage is deformed. As a result, the volume of the ink passage contracts according to the expansion of the piezo element, and the ink corresponding to the contraction becomes ink droplets and is ejected at high speed from the tip of the nozzle. The ink droplets soak into the printing paper P along the paper feed roller 26, whereby dots are formed and printing is performed. The size of the ink droplet can be changed by a method of applying a voltage to the piezo element. As a result, three types of dots having different sizes, large, medium, and small, can be formed.

  The control circuit 40 is connected to the computer 90 via the connector 56. The computer 90 is loaded with a printer driver program for the printer 22 as will be described later, accepts user commands by operating keyboards and mice as input devices, and displays various information in the printer 22 on the screen of the display device. It constitutes a user interface to be presented by display.

  The sub-scan feed mechanism that transports the printing paper P includes a gear train (not shown) that transmits the rotation of the paper feed motor 23 to a paper feed roller 26 and a paper transport roller (not shown).

  The main scanning feed mechanism for reciprocating the carriage 31 is an endless drive between the carriage motor 24 and a slide shaft 34 that is laid in parallel with the axis of the paper feed roller 26 and slidably holds the carriage 31. A pulley 38 for stretching the belt 36 and an optical sensor 39 for detecting the origin position of the carriage 31 are provided. The optical sensor 39 serving as detection means includes a light source that projects light onto the printing paper P, a photodiode (or a CCD element) that converts reflected light from the printing paper P into an image signal corresponding thereto. It is constituted by.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 40 is a first correction pattern printing unit, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 as a second correction pattern printing unit, and a programmable ROM (a storage unit). P-ROM (Read Only Memory) 43, RAM (Random Access Memory) 44, character generator (CG (Character Generator)) 45 storing character dot matrix, EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 46, and encoder 47 It is comprised as an arithmetic logic operation circuit provided with. The encoder 47 detects the position of the carriage 31 in the main scanning direction based on the detection signal from the detection unit 48 provided in the carriage motor 24. The encoder 47 detects the position of the printing paper P in the sub-scanning direction based on the detection signal from the detection unit 49 provided in the paper feed motor 23.

  The control circuit 40 further drives an I / F dedicated circuit 50 that is an interface (I / F (Interface)) with an external motor or the like, and the print head unit 60 connected to the I / F dedicated circuit 50. A head drive circuit 52 that ejects ink, and a motor drive circuit 54 that drives the paper feed motor 23 and the carriage motor 24.

  The I / F dedicated circuit 50 incorporates a parallel interface circuit and can receive print data PD supplied from the computer 90 via the connector 56.

  Next, the configuration of the computer 90 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the computer 90 includes a CPU 91, ROM 92, RAM 93, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 94, video circuit 95, I / F 96, bus 97, display device 98, input device 99, and external storage device 100. Has been.

  Here, the CPU 91 which is a reading unit and a calculating unit is a control unit which executes various arithmetic processes according to programs stored in the ROM 92 and the HDD 94 and controls each unit of the apparatus.

  The ROM 92 is a memory that stores basic programs executed by the CPU 91 and data. The RAM 93 is a memory that temporarily stores programs being executed by the CPU 91 and data being calculated.

  The HDD 94 is a recording device that reads data and programs recorded on a hard disk as a recording medium in response to a request from the CPU 91 and records data generated as a result of arithmetic processing of the CPU 91 on the hard disk.

  The video circuit 95 is a circuit that executes a drawing process in accordance with a drawing command supplied from the CPU 91, converts the obtained image data into a video signal, and outputs the video signal to the display device 98.

  The I / F 96 is a circuit that appropriately converts the expression format of signals output from the input device 99 and the external storage device 100 and outputs print data PD to the printer 22.

  The bus 97 is a signal line that connects the CPU 91, the ROM 92, the RAM 93, the HDD 94, the video circuit 95, and the I / F 96 to each other and enables data exchange between them.

  The display device 98 is configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor, and displays an image corresponding to the video signal output from the video circuit 95.

  The input device 99 is configured by, for example, a keyboard and a mouse, and is a device that generates a signal corresponding to a user operation and supplies the signal to the I / F 96.

  The external storage device 100 includes, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-ROM) drive unit, an MO (Magneto Optic) drive unit, and an FDD (Flexible Disk Drive) unit, and is recorded on a CD-ROM disc, an MO disc, and an FD. This is a device that reads out data and programs that are stored and supplies them to the CPU 91. In the case of the MO drive unit and the FDD unit, the data is supplied from the CPU 91 to the MO disk or FD.

  Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following, first, the outline of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described, and then the detailed operation will be described.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, when the print head 12 is mounted with an angle α from the main scanning direction, information about the angle α is detected using a pattern described later.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a pattern used for detecting the angle α in the present embodiment. In this example, a pattern 200 including seven patterns 201 to 207 to which symbols # 1 to # 7 are assigned is displayed at the top. Here, each of the patterns 201 to 207 is configured by two types of rectangular patterns (rectangular pattern with diagonal hatching and rectangular pattern with vertical hatching) arranged alternately on the left and right. These two types of rectangular patterns are printed by different nozzle rows, and when the print head 12 has a predetermined inclination, the two types of rectangles are printed in an orderly manner by appropriately combining the nozzle rows. It has been devised.

Here, in the pattern 201, when the print head 12 is inclined by +105 μm in the clockwise direction , that is, as shown in FIG. 7, the print head 12 whose length in the main scanning direction is r is clockwise from the main scanning direction. Is inclined by an angle α, and when dy = 105 μm, two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at equal intervals as shown in FIG. In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are not equally spaced and are printed with overlapping or gaps.

In the pattern 202, when the print head 12 is tilted by +70 μm in the clockwise direction , as shown in FIG. 8A, two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at regular intervals. In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are not equally spaced and are printed with overlapping or gaps.

In the pattern 203, when the print head 12 is inclined by +30 μm in the clockwise direction , as shown in FIG. 8A, two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at regular intervals. In other cases, As shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are printed at an equal interval, overlapping or creating a gap.

  In the pattern 204, when the print head 12 is not inclined, as shown in FIG. 8A, two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at regular intervals. In other cases, the pattern 204 shown in FIG. ), The two types of rectangular patterns do not have equal intervals, but are printed with overlapping or gaps.

Pattern 205, when the print head 12 is inclined by 35μm counterclockwise, i.e., when inclined by -35μm clockwise, as shown in FIG. 8 (A), two rectangular patterns In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are not equally spaced and are printed with overlapping or gaps. The

Pattern 206, when the print head 12 is inclined by 70μm counterclockwise, i.e., when inclined by -70μm clockwise, as shown in FIG. 8 (A), two rectangular patterns In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are not evenly spaced and are printed with overlapping or gaps. The

When the print head 12 is tilted by 105 μm counterclockwise , that is, when the print head 12 is tilted by −105 μm clockwise , as shown in FIG. In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are not equally spaced and are printed with overlapping or gaps. The

  Therefore, printing is performed by selecting the patterns 201 to 207 shown in FIG. 6 in which rectangular patterns are regularly arranged at regular intervals as shown in FIG. 8A and no banding or gaps are generated. The inclination of the head 12 can be obtained.

  Next, the operation when printing the above pattern will be described in detail.

  First, when the input device 99 of the computer 90 is operated to instruct to start an application program for detecting the tilt of the print head 12, the CPU 91 of the computer 90 reads the application program stored in the HDD 94. And execute.

  As a result, a flowchart as shown in FIG. 9 is started. When this flowchart is started, the following steps are executed.

  Step S10: The CPU 91 of the computer 90 transmits a predetermined command to the printer 22 and requests to perform paper feed processing. As a result, in the printer 22, the CPU 41 receives this command via the I / F dedicated circuit 50, drives the paper feed motor 23, and prints only one print sheet P stored in a stocker (not shown). 22 is extended to the inside.

  Step S11: The CPU 91 of the computer 90 transmits a command requesting the printer 22 to print the pattern shown in FIG. As a result, in the printer 22, the CPU 41 receives this command via the I / F dedicated circuit 50 and recognizes that pattern printing is requested.

Then, the CPU 91 reads out data indicating the target nozzle row and nozzle number in each inclination amount from the table as shown in FIG. 10 stored in the P-ROM 43. In this figure, “inclination direction” indicates the direction in which the print head 12 is inclined, and is either “clockwise” or “counterclockwise”. "Inclination amount", when the clockwise and positive and counterclockwise negative, indicates the value of dy shown in FIG. The “first target nozzle” indicates a nozzle row (first nozzle row) that prints a first correction pattern (in this example, a rectangle with oblique hatching). The second target nozzle indicates a nozzle row (second nozzle row) for printing a second correction pattern (in this example, a rectangle with vertical hatching). The feed amount indicates the feed amount when the first and second correction patterns are printed. Note that the first target nozzle is a nozzle row located on the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction. On the other hand, the second target nozzle is a nozzle row located on the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction.

Here, the first target nozzle row and the second target nozzle row will be described in more detail. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of the print head 12 when the print head 12 has a clockwise inclination and the inclination amount is 105 μm. In this example, in order to simplify the drawing, only the nozzles N _{31 to} N ₃₃ among the nozzles N _{1 to} N ₁₈₀ of the print head 12 shown in FIG. 5 are shown. “#” Is a symbol indicating a nozzle number. For example, “# 33” indicates the nozzle N ₃₃ .

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the print head 12 is inclined in the clockwise direction and the inclination amount is 105 μm, the positions in the sub-scanning direction of the nozzles constituting the nozzle row A and the nozzle row F are as follows. It is the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row D), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Therefore, when printing is performed using the nozzle row A and the nozzle row F, when the print head 12 has a clockwise inclination and the inclination amount is 105 μm, the position in the sub-scanning direction is uniform and clean. A pattern will be obtained.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a first correction pattern printed by the first nozzle row and a second correction pattern printed by the second nozzle row, respectively. In the example of this figure, the first correction pattern printed by the first nozzle row is set to on (printing) or off (non-printing) every five nozzles arranged in the sub-scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 13, these patterns are combined and printed like comb teeth. Here, the pattern on the left side of FIG. 13 is a pattern where printing starts from nozzle # 31, and the pattern on the right side is a pattern where printing starts from nozzle # 32. In the left pattern, the pattern located at the top is printed by nozzles # 31 to # 35 included in the first nozzle row, and the next pattern is nozzles # 36 to ## included in the second nozzle row. 40 is printed. On the other hand, in the right pattern, the pattern located at the top is printed by nozzles # 32 to # 36 included in the first nozzle row, and the next pattern is nozzle # 37 included in the second nozzle row. ~ # 41 is printed.

The pattern printed in this way is the pattern 201 shown in FIG. 6, and when the print head 12 is inclined about +105 μm clockwise , two types of rectangular patterns are obtained as shown in FIG. In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are not equally spaced and are printed with overlapping or gaps. The

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the state of the print head 12 when the print head 12 has a clockwise tilt and the tilt amount is 70 μm. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12 has an inclination in the clockwise direction and the inclination amount is 70 μm, the positions in the sub-scanning direction of the nozzles constituting the nozzle array A and the nozzle array H are as follows. It is the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row D), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Therefore, when printing is performed using the nozzle row A and the nozzle row H, if the print head 12 is inclined clockwise and the amount of inclination is 70 μm, the position in the sub-scanning direction is uniform. A pattern will be obtained.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the state of the print head 12 when the print head 12 has a clockwise tilt and the tilt amount is 35 μm. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12 has an inclination in the clockwise direction and the inclination amount is 35 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle array A and the nozzle array H in the sub-scanning direction are as follows. It is close but not in the same position. Therefore, in this case, after printing the first correction pattern, and after feeding in the sub-scanning direction by 2/1440 = 1/720 inch corresponding to the distance between the first and second correction patterns. The second correction pattern is printed. As a result, when the print head 12 is tilted by +35 μm in the clockwise direction , two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at equal intervals as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, the two types of rectangular patterns are printed at an equal interval, overlapping or creating a gap.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a state of the print head 12 when the print head 12 has a tilt in the counterclockwise direction and the tilt amount is 35 μm (that is, when the print head 12 has a tilt of −35 μm in the clockwise direction ). is there. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12 has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 35 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle row B and the nozzle row H in the sub-scanning direction. Are close to each other but are not in the same position. Therefore, in this case, as in the case described above, after the first correction pattern is printed, sub-scanning is performed by 2/1440 = 1/720 inch corresponding to the distance between the first and second correction patterns. After feeding in the direction, the second correction pattern is printed. As a result, when the print head 12 is tilted by +35 μm in the clockwise direction , two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at equal intervals as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, the two types of rectangular patterns are printed at an equal interval, overlapping or creating a gap.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a state of the print head 12 when the print head 12 has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 70 μm (that is, when the print head 12 has an inclination of −70 μm in the clockwise direction ). is there. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12 has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 70 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle row A and the nozzle row H in the sub-scanning direction. Are the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row D), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Therefore, when printing is performed using the nozzle row A and the nozzle row H, when the print head 12 has a tilt in the counterclockwise direction and the tilt amount is 70 μm, the positions in the sub-scanning direction are aligned. A beautiful pattern will be obtained.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a state of the print head 12 when the print head 12 has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 105 μm (that is, when the print head 12 has an inclination of −105 μm in the clockwise direction ). is there. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12 has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 105 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle array A and the nozzle array F in the sub-scanning direction. Are the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row D), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Therefore, when printing is performed using the nozzle row A and the nozzle row H, when the print head 12 has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 105 μm, the positions in the sub-scanning direction are aligned. A beautiful pattern will be obtained.

  As described above, the print correction pattern as shown in FIG. 6 is printed on the printing paper P. Next, returning to FIG. 9, the description will be continued.

  Step S12: The CPU 91 of the computer 90 requests the printer 22 to perform a paper discharge process. As a result, the CPU 41 of the printer 22 drives the paper feed motor 23 to discharge the printing paper P that has been printed.

  Step S13: The CPU 91 of the computer 90 refers to the pattern shown in FIG. 6, selects one pattern that the two types of rectangles are considered to be most orderly arranged, and specifies information for specifying the correction pattern ( The input of any of # 1 to # 7 that is designated information) is received. For example, when “# 2” is input as the designation information, the CPU 91 receives this from the input device 99.

  Step S14: The CPU 91 of the computer 90 determines whether or not the input of the designation information has been completed. If it is determined that the input has been completed, the process proceeds to step S15, and otherwise the same process is repeated.

Step S15: The CPU 91 of the computer 90 specifies the inclination of the print head 12 based on the designation information. Specifically, when “# 2” is selected as the designation information, “+70 μm clockwise ” is obtained as the inclination of the print head 12. Information regarding the inclination obtained in this way may be displayed on the display device 98.

  Alternatively, the inclination of the print head 12 may be corrected by adjusting the inclination of the print head 12 and then repeating the above process again.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the print head 12 is selected by referring to the patterns 201 to 207 as shown in FIG. You can know the slope of.

  In the above embodiment, any one pattern is selected. However, when there are two (or) two types of rectangles arranged in an orderly manner, an intermediate value thereof is set. You may make it input. Specifically, if both the rectangles of the pattern 201 and the pattern 202 are arranged in an orderly manner, “1.5” is input as the designation information, and “+87.5 μm” is obtained as the inclination value. Good.

In the above embodiment, the case of the ink head 12 having the eight nozzle rows A to H as shown in FIG. 2 has been described as an example. However, as shown in FIG. The present invention can also be applied to a print head 12A having A to F. In the example of FIG. 19, nozzle rows A, C, and D and nozzle rows B and D having different nozzle N ₁ positions are alternately provided, and each of the nozzle rows A to F includes 180 nozzles Nz. It is configured.

  FIG. 20 is a table similar to FIG. 10 and shows an example of a table used for the print head 12A shown in FIG. In this example, the combination of the first and second target nozzles is different compared to the case of FIG. The rest is the same as in the case of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the state of the print head 12A when the print head 12A has a clockwise inclination and the amount of inclination is 105 μm. In this example, in order to simplify the drawing, only the nozzles N _{31 to} N ₃₃ among the nozzles N _{1 to} N ₁₈₀ of the print head 12A shown in FIG. 19 are shown. “#” Is a symbol indicating a nozzle number. For example, “# 33” indicates the nozzle N ₃₃ .

  As shown in FIG. 21, when the print head 12 is inclined in the clockwise direction and the amount of inclination is 105 μm, the positions in the sub-scanning direction of the nozzles constituting the nozzle row A and the nozzle row D are as follows. It is the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row F), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Therefore, when printing is performed using the nozzle array A and the nozzle array D, when the print head 12A is inclined in the clockwise direction and the inclination amount is 105 μm, as shown in FIG. In addition, a beautiful pattern having a uniform position in the sub-scanning direction can be obtained. In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, a part of the rectangle is superimposed or a pattern having banding is formed.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the state of the print head 12A when the print head 12A has a clockwise inclination and the amount of inclination is 70 μm. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12A is inclined in the clockwise direction and the inclination amount is 70 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle array A and the nozzle array F in the sub-scanning direction are as follows. It is the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row D), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Therefore, when printing is performed using the nozzle row A and the nozzle row F, when the print head 12A has a clockwise inclination and the amount of inclination is 70 μm, as shown in FIG. In addition, a beautiful pattern having a uniform position in the sub-scanning direction can be obtained.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the state of the print head 12A when the print head 12A has a clockwise inclination and the amount of inclination is 35 μm. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12A is inclined in the clockwise direction and the inclination amount is 35 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle row A and the nozzle row F in the sub-scanning direction are as follows. It is close but not in the same position. Therefore, in this case, after printing the first correction pattern, and after feeding in the sub-scanning direction by 2/1440 = 1/720 inch corresponding to the distance between the first and second correction patterns. The second correction pattern is printed. As a result, when the print head 12A is tilted by about +35 μm in the clockwise direction, two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at regular intervals as shown in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 8B, the two types of rectangular patterns are not equally spaced but are printed with overlapping or gaps.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a state of the print head 12A when the print head 12A has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 35 μm (that is, when the print head 12A has an inclination of −35 μm in the clockwise direction ). is there. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12A is inclined in the counterclockwise direction and the amount of inclination is 35 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle row B and the nozzle row F in the sub-scanning direction are as follows. Are close to each other but are not in the same position. Therefore, in this case, as in the case described above, after the first correction pattern is printed, sub-scanning is performed by 2/1440 = 1/720 inch corresponding to the distance between the first and second correction patterns. After feeding in the direction, the second correction pattern is printed. As a result, when the print head 12A is tilted by +35 μm clockwise , two types of rectangular patterns are regularly printed at regular intervals as shown in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 5B, the two types of rectangular patterns are printed at an equal interval, overlapping or creating a gap.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the state of the print head 12A when the print head 12A has a tilt in the counterclockwise direction and the tilt amount is 70 μm (that is, when the print head 12A has a tilt of −70 μm in the clockwise direction ). is there. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12A is inclined in the counterclockwise direction and the amount of inclination is 70 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle row A and the nozzle row F in the sub-scanning direction are as follows. Are the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row D), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Accordingly, when printing is performed using the nozzle array A and the nozzle array F, the print head 12A has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction, and the inclination amount is 70 μm, as shown in FIG. As described above, a beautiful pattern having a uniform position in the sub-scanning direction can be obtained.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the state of the print head 12A when the print head 12A has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction and the inclination amount is 105 μm (that is, when the print head 12A has an inclination of −105 μm in the clockwise direction ). is there. As shown in this figure, when the print head 12A is inclined in the counterclockwise direction and the amount of inclination is 105 μm, the positions of the nozzles constituting the nozzle array A and the nozzle array D in the sub-scanning direction Are the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row F), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Therefore, when printing is performed using the nozzle array A and the nozzle array D, the print head 12A has an inclination in the counterclockwise direction, and the inclination amount is 105 μm, as shown in FIG. As described above, a beautiful pattern having a uniform position in the sub-scanning direction can be obtained.

  In the case of the print head 12 shown in FIG. 19, the same patterns 201 to 207 as those shown in FIG. 6 are printed, and a pattern in which two types of rectangles are arranged in an orderly manner is selected. The inclination can be obtained.

  As described above, the present invention can be applied to the print head 12A having six nozzle rows, and the inclination of the print head 12A can be obtained quantitatively and quickly.

  By the way, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 19, the print heads 12 and 12A (so-called “houndstooth”) composed of two types of nozzle rows having different nozzle positions in the sub-scanning direction. Although the present invention is applied to a print head), it is also possible to apply the present invention to a print head composed of one kind of nozzle row.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the print head 12B in which the nozzle arrangement positions in the sub-scanning direction are the same in all nozzle rows. In this example, the nozzles N _{1 to} N ₁₈₀ constituting the nozzle rows A to H are all provided at the same position in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the state of the print head 12B when the print head 12B shown in FIG. 27 has a clockwise inclination and the amount of inclination is 140 μm. In this example, in order to simplify the drawing, only the nozzles N _{31 to} N ₃₃ among the nozzles N _{1 to} N ₁₈₀ of the print head 12B shown in FIG. 27 are shown. “#” Is a symbol indicating a nozzle number. For example, “# 33” indicates the nozzle N ₃₃ .

  As shown in FIG. 28, when the print head 12B has an inclination in the clockwise direction and the inclination amount is 140 μm, the sub-scan of each nozzle constituting the nozzle array A and the nozzle array G or the nozzle array H is performed. The direction position is the same. Further, in the other nozzle rows (for example, nozzle row A and nozzle row D), the positions in the sub-scanning direction are shifted. Accordingly, when printing is performed using the nozzle row A and the nozzle row G or the nozzle row H, the print head 12B has a clockwise inclination and the inclination amount is 140 μm. ), A clean pattern with a uniform position in the sub-scanning direction can be obtained. In other cases, as shown in FIG. 8B, the rectangles partially overlap or create a gap. become.

When the inclination of the print head 12B is 140 μm or less in the clockwise direction, the inclination can be calculated by accompanying feeding in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a table used when the correction pattern is printed using the print head 12B shown in FIG. 27 and accompanied with feeding in the sub-scanning direction. In this figure, “inclination direction” indicates the direction in which the print head 12B is inclined, and is “clockwise” or “counterclockwise”. "Inclination amount", when the clockwise and positive and counterclockwise negative, indicates the value of dy shown in FIG. The “first target nozzle” indicates a nozzle that prints a first correction pattern (in this example, a rectangle with diagonal hatching). The second target nozzle is a nozzle that prints a second correction pattern (in this example, a rectangle with vertical hatching). The feed amount indicates the feed amount when the first and second correction patterns are printed. The first target nozzle is a nozzle located on the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction. On the other hand, the second target nozzle is a nozzle located on the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction. This figure is different from the case of FIG. 10 in that the feed amount is set for all inclination amounts.

  When printing is performed using the print head 12B shown in FIG. 27, the inclination of the print head 12B can be obtained by printing the correction pattern using the table shown in FIG.

  As described above, the present invention can also be applied to the print head 12B in which the nozzle rows A to H are all the same nozzle row as shown in FIG. The inclination of the print head 12B can be obtained quantitatively and quickly.

  In the above description, patterns having a rectangular shape are printed as the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern. However, for example, other patterns can be used.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example in which ruled lines are used as the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern. The example of this figure is a case where the print head 12 shown in FIG. 2 is used, and ruled lines are printed using the nozzles shown in FIG. That is, in this example, the ruled line on the left side of the drawing, which is the first correction pattern, is printed using the first nozzle row shown in FIG. 10, and the second correction row is used using the second nozzle row. A ruled line on the right side of the figure which is a pattern is drawn. A pattern in which two adjacent ruled lines that are the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are in a straight line (pattern 253 in the example of FIG. 30) corresponds to the inclination of the print head 12. By specifying the designation information (# 1 to # 7) given to the pattern, the inclination of the print head 12 can be obtained.

Specifically, when the print head 12 is inclined by 105 μm in the clockwise direction , the left ruled line is printed by the # 31 nozzle in the A row shown in FIG. 11 and the right ruled line is printed by the # 31 nozzle in the F row. By printing ruled lines, it is possible to print ruled lines whose positions in the sub-scanning direction match.

  In other words, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the inclination of the print head 12 is obtained by selecting a correction pattern in which rectangular patterns are arranged in an orderly manner. However, in the example of FIG. The inclination of the print head 12 can be obtained by selecting the correction patterns arranged in a row.

That is, the pattern 251 is a pattern print head 12 coincides ruled line when tilted by 105μm clockwise, pattern 252, the print head 12 is in a pattern borders matches when tilted by 70μm clockwise Yes, the pattern 253 is a pattern that matches the ruled line when the print head 12 is tilted by 35 μm clockwise , and the pattern 254 is a pattern that matches the ruled line when the print head 12 has no tilt. 255 is a pattern in which the ruled lines are matched when the print head 12 is tilted by 35 μm counterclockwise , and pattern 256 is a pattern in which the ruled lines are matched when the print head 12 is tilted by 70 μm counterclockwise . , pattern 257, borders a match if the print head 12 is inclined by 105μm counterclockwise It is a pattern that.

  In this way, the inclination of the print head 12 can be obtained even if ruled lines are used.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be variously modified in addition to this. For example, in the above embodiment, seven colors of DY, LM, LC, K, C, M, and Y are used as the ink, but other ink combinations may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the printer 22 having a head for ejecting ink using a piezo element is used. However, various ejection drive elements other than the piezo element can be used. is there. For example, the present invention can be applied to a printer provided with an ejection drive element of a type that energizes a heater disposed in an ink passage and ejects ink by bubbles generated in the ink passage.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the user obtains the inclination of the print head 12 by observing the print correction pattern shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 30, but for example, the optical provided in the print head 12 The sensor 39 may be used to read the print correction pattern printed on the printing paper P, and the inclination of the print head 12 may be obtained according to the result. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, it is only necessary to optically read each correction pattern and select a pattern with less uneven density in the sub-scanning direction.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 9 is executed in the computer 90, but it can also be executed in the printer 22. In that case, the process shown in FIG. 9 may be executed by using a predetermined button on the touch panel 32 as a trigger.

  In the above embodiment, the pattern shown in FIG. 6 is printed by the process on the printer 22 side, but may be printed by the process on the computer 90 side, for example. In that case, raster data corresponding to the pattern shown in FIG. 6 may be generated by the driver program of the computer 90 and supplied to the printer 22 for printing.

  In the above embodiment, the description has been given by taking the pattern of the rectangle and the ruled line as an example, but it is needless to say that other patterns (for example, trapezoid, triangle) may be used.

  It is also possible to store the inclination amount obtained by the above embodiment in, for example, a P-ROM of the printer 22 and perform correction at the time of printing according to the inclination amount.

  The program describing the above processing functions can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, and a semiconductor memory. Examples of the magnetic recording device include a hard disk device (HDD), a flexible disk (FD), and a magnetic tape. Optical disks include DVD, DVD-RAM (Random Access Memory), CD-ROM, CD-R (Recordable) / RW (ReWritable), and the like. Magneto-optical recording media include MO.

  When distributing the program, for example, a portable recording medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded is sold. It is also possible to store the program in a storage device of a server computer and transfer the program from the server computer to another computer via a network.

  The computer that executes the program stores, for example, the program recorded on the portable recording medium or the program transferred from the server computer in its own storage device. Then, the computer reads the program from its own storage device and executes processing according to the program. The computer can also read the program directly from the portable recording medium and execute processing according to the program. In addition, each time the program is transferred from the server computer, the computer can sequentially execute processing according to the received program.

  The present invention can be used in a printing apparatus having a print head.

  22 Printer (part of printing apparatus), 39 Optical sensor (detection means), 41 CPU (first correction pattern printing means, second correction pattern printing means), 43 P-ROM, 90 computer (printing apparatus) ), 91 CPU (reading means, calculating means), 201 to 207 patterns (first correction pattern, second correction pattern), 251 to 257 patterns (first correction pattern, second correction pattern) Correction pattern), P printing paper (printing medium).

Claims (5)

A nozzle row formed by arranging a plurality of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction ;
A print head in which a plurality of the nozzle rows are arranged in the main scanning direction ;
Have
Printing the first correction pattern of the correction patterns for detecting the inclination of the print head in the scanning plane on the print medium by the first nozzle row of the plurality of nozzle rows;
A second nozzle row of the plurality of nozzle rows, which is a second nozzle row different from the first nozzle row, causes a second correction pattern of the correction patterns to be printed on the print medium. Print on
The interval between the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern differs according to the inclination of the print head in the scanning plane,
A plurality of the correction patterns by the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are printed on the print medium,
The plurality of correction patterns are printing apparatuses in which intervals between the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern among the correction patterns are different . Detecting means for optically detecting states of the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern;
Calculating means for calculating the inclination of the print head according to the states of the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern detected by the detection means;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further have a. The first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are configured by printing a plurality of patterns having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction. Printing device. A printing method of a printing apparatus having a nozzle row formed by arranging a plurality of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction and a print head in which a plurality of the nozzle rows are arranged in the main scanning direction,
Printing the first correction pattern of the correction patterns for detecting the inclination of the print head in the scanning plane on the print medium by the first nozzle row of the plurality of nozzle rows;
A second nozzle row of the plurality of nozzle rows, which is a second nozzle row different from the first nozzle row, causes a second correction pattern of the correction patterns to be printed on the print medium. Print on
The interval between the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern differs according to the inclination of the print head in the scanning plane,
A plurality of the correction patterns by the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are printed on the print medium,
The plurality of correction patterns are printing methods in which intervals between the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern among the correction patterns are different. The detection means optically detects the state of the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern,
Calculating the inclination of the print head according to the state of the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern detected by the detection means;
The printing method according to claim 4, wherein the first correction pattern and the second correction pattern are configured by printing a plurality of patterns having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction.

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