Liquid discharging device, correction chart generating method, and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9950513-B2
Application number	US-201615371261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2016
Priority date	Dec 11, 2015
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A controller for a liquid discharging device generates a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction part, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array. The controller drives a predetermined number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the predetermined number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array, and drives a number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the predetermined number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A liquid discharging device comprising:
a liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array; and
a controller configured to drive the liquid discharge head to discharge a liquid to form an image on a recording sheet,
wherein, when forming a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction pattern, the controller is further configured to
drive a first number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the first number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array,
drive a second number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the first number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array,
change an amplification of a drive waveform based on a drive waveform correction value and a drive waveform related to the second number of the plurality of nozzles.

2. The liquid discharge device according to claim 1 , wherein the correction pattern at least includes a first correction pattern and a second correction pattern, and
the controller is further configured to
drive a first number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the first number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the first correction pattern adjacent to the reference pattern,
drive a third number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the second number of nozzles driven in forming the first correction pattern, to form the second correction pattern adjacent to the first correction pattern, and
drive the first number of the plurality of nozzles to form another reference pattern adjacent to the second correction pattern.

3. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control panel to receive a user input,
wherein the controller is further configured to
change a width of the reference pattern and a width of the correction pattern according to the user input.

4. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to
form the reference pattern and the correction pattern such that end portions of the reference pattern and the correction pattern are positioned close to a left end or a right end of a print width of the recording sheet.

5. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to
change density of the reference pattern according to a user input.

6. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid discharge head is a serial head, and
the controller is further configured to
form the reference pattern in a first scan, and
form the correction pattern in a second scan.

7. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid discharge head is a serial head, and
the controller is further configured to
form the reference pattern in an odd-numbered scan, and
form the correction pattern in an even numbered scan with the drive waveform having an amplification being changed.

8. A method of generating a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction pattern, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array, the method comprising:
driving a first number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the first number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array; and
driving a second number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the predetermined number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array, and
changing an amplification of a drive waveform based on a drive waveform correction value and a drive waveform related to the second number of the plurality of nozzles.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the driving to form the correction pattern includes:
driving a third number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the first number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form a first correction pattern adjacent to the reference pattern; and
driving a fourth number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the third number of nozzles driven in forming the first correction pattern, to form a second correction pattern adjacent to the first correction pattern,
the method further comprising:
driving the first number of the plurality of nozzles to form another reference pattern adjacent to the second correction pattern.

10. A non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of generating a correction chart including a reference pattern and a correction pattern, using a liquid discharged from a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head having a plurality of nozzles that are arranged to form a nozzle array, the method comprising:
driving a first number of the plurality of nozzles to form the reference pattern on the recording sheet along a direction of the nozzle array, the first number being a number equal to or less than a total number of the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle array; and
driving a second number of the plurality of nozzles that is different than the first number of nozzles driven in forming the reference pattern, to form the correction pattern on the recording sheet along the direction of the nozzle array, and
changing an amplification of a drive waveform based on a drive waveform correction value and a drive waveform related to the second number of the plurality of nozzles.

Assignees

• Mizutani Tomohiro
• Shirato Takeo
• Takahashi Hiroki
• Tobita Katsuhiro
• Hayashi Ryuichi
• Horie Yasuyuki
• Maeda Takatsugu
• Murate Hirohito
• Ikegami Kohtaroh
• Inoue Kohsuke
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mizutani Tomohiro
• Shirato Takeo
• Takahashi Hiroki
• Tobita Katsuhiro
• Hayashi Ryuichi
• Horie Yasuyuki
• Maeda Takatsugu
• Murate Hirohito
• Ikegami Kohtaroh
• Inoue Kohsuke

Classifications

• B41J2/04508

  aiming at correcting other parameters · CPC title

• B41J2/01 Primary

  Ink jet · CPC title

• B41J29/393

  Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns} · CPC title

• B41J29/38 Primary

  Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism · CPC title

• B41J2029/3935

  by means of printed test patterns · CPC title