Image recording apparatus, method of calculating record position shifts, and method of recording measured patterns
View Patent ↗An image recording apparatus records a plurality of measuring patterns on a recording medium. Each measuring pattern is constituted by dots spaced from one another on the recording medium, or by dots contacting one another, forming lines spaced from one another on the recording medium. Further, the measuring patterns have gravity centers are almost identical in position on the recording medium. Hence, the relative record shifts of the measuring patterns recorded by recording element arrays, respectively, can be decreased.
1. An image recording apparatus comprising:
a measuring pattern recording unit which includes a plurality of recording element arrays, each composed of recording elements configured to record ink dots on a recording medium, wherein the measuring pattern recording unit is configured to move the recording medium relative to the plurality of recording element arrays, and to drive the recording elements of each recording element array, thereby recording a prescribed plurality of measuring patterns;
a read unit configured to read the measuring patterns recorded on the recording medium; and
a record-position shift calculating unit configured to calculate relative record shifts of the measuring patterns from reading results acquired by the read unit,
wherein the measuring pattern recording unit records the plurality of measuring patterns on the recording medium such that gravity centers of the plurality of measuring patterns are identical in position on both a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis, the first coordinate axis being parallel to a direction in which the recording medium is moved relative to the plurality of recording element arrays, and the second coordinate axis being parallel to a direction in which positions of the recording element arrays are adjusted.
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring pattern recording unit records the measuring patterns on the recording medium, each spaced apart from another.
3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first coordinate axis is parallel to a direction in which the recording medium is carried.
4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second coordinate axis is parallel to the plurality of recording element arrays.
5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring patterns include lines comprising dots contacting one another.
6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein average coordinates of the measuring patterns are identical in position with respect to a coordinate axis perpendicular to the lines included in each measuring pattern.
7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein average coordinates of the measuring patterns are identical in position with respect to a coordinate axis parallel to the lines included in each measuring pattern.