Liquid discharging device and method of reading test pattern image by liquid discharging device

1. A liquid discharging device comprising:

a support unit configured to support a medium,

a discharging unit configured to discharge liquid to the medium supported by the support unit,

a reading unit configured to read an image formed on the medium with the liquid,

a holding unit configured to hold the discharging unit and the reading unit while moving in a scanning direction, and

a control unit configured to control operation of the discharging unit, the reading unit, and the holding unit, wherein

the control unit is configured to perform

pattern forming operation that causes the discharging unit to discharge the liquid to form a test pattern image on the medium,

reading operation that causes the reading unit to read at least a partial region of the test pattern image, and

flushing operation that causes the discharging unit to perform flushing for discharging the liquid to a region in the test pattern image read by the reading unit,

wherein the reading operation is configured to perform:

a first moving operation that causes the reading unit to move in the scanning direction to read at least a partial region of the test pattern image,

a second moving operation that causes the reading unit to move in an intersect direction that intersects the scanning direction, and

the first moving operation and the second moving operation are alternately repeated, and

wherein the flushing operation is performed during a period in which the reading operation is not performed.

2. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein

when operation causing the reading unit to read a first region in the test pattern image by the reading operation is first reading operation, and operation causing the reading unit to read a second region in the test pattern image by the reading operation after the first reading operation is performed is second reading operation,

the control unit causes the discharging unit to perform the flushing operation for discharging the liquid to the first region during a period, in which the reading operation is not performed, after the first reading operation is performed.

3. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein

the reading unit includes

a light-receiving unit configured to receive light reflected by the medium, and

a shutter configured to move to an open position where the light-receiving unit is exposed to the medium and a closed position where the light-receiving unit is covered against the medium, and

the shutter is located at the open position while the reading operation is performed, and the shutter is located at the closed position while the flushing operation is performed.

4. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein

when operation causing the reading unit to read a first region in the test pattern image by the reading operation is first reading operation, and operation causing the reading unit to read a second region in the test pattern image by the reading operation after the first reading operation is performed is second reading operation,

the control unit causes the discharging unit to perform the flushing operation for discharging the liquid to the first region while the second reading operation is performed.

5. The liquid discharging device according to claim 1 , wherein

when a region corresponding to a range that the reading unit is configured to read at one time is a unit reading region,

the control unit reads a plurality of unit reading regions in one reading operation, and then performs the flushing operation.

6. The liquid discharging device according to, wherein

the support unit includes a transporting belt at which the medium is arranged and configured to transport the medium in a direction intersecting the scanning direction below the holding unit, and

the liquid discharging device further includes the cleaning unit configured to clean the transporting belt.

7. A method of causing a liquid discharging device to read a test pattern image, the liquid discharging device including a support unit configured to support a medium, a discharging unit configured to discharge liquid to the medium supported by the support unit, a reading unit configured to read an image formed on the medium with the liquid, a holding unit configured to hold the discharging unit and the reading unit while moving in a scanning direction, the method comprising:

performing a pattern forming operation that causes the discharging unit to discharge the liquid, thereby forming the test pattern image on the medium,

performing a reading operation that causes the reading unit to read at least a partial region of the test pattern image,

performing a flushing operation that causes the discharging unit to perform flushing for discharging the liquid to a region in the test pattern image read by the reading unit

wherein the reading operation is configured to perform:

a first moving operation that causes the reading unit to move in the scanning direction to read at least a partial region of the test pattern image,

a second moving operation that causes the reading unit to move in an intersect direction that intersects the scanning direction, and

the first moving operation and the second moving operation are alternately repeated, and

wherein the flushing operation is performed during a period in which the reading operation is not performed.