Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and position adjustment method

An image forming system comprising:

• a plurality of image forming apparatuses each including:
• a conveyor to convey a conveyed object in a conveyance direction;
• a plurality of head units to perform image formation on the conveyed object;
• a displacement sensor disposed downstream from the plurality of head units to detect a position adjustment image, formed by the plurality of head units, on the conveyed object;
• at least one processor configured to adjust an image formation position of the at least one of the plurality of head units in an orthogonal direction to the conveyance direction based on a detection result generated by the displacement sensor;
• a surface sensor to obtain surface data of the conveyed object at a position corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of head units;
• and
• a sensor moving device,
• the at least one processor configured to further adjust the adjusted image formation position in the orthogonal direction based on the surface data obtained by the surface sensor, to change an origin of image data captured by the surface sensor, and to move, with the sensor moving device, the surface sensor to change the origin of image data.

A method for adjusting a position of image formation on a conveyed object in an apparatus including a plurality of head units, the method comprising:

• forming a position adjustment image on the conveyed object with the plurality of head units;
• detecting the position adjustment image at a position downstream from the plurality of head units;
• adjusting an image formation position of at least one of the plurality of head units in an orthogonal direction to a conveyance direction in which the conveyed object is conveyed, based on a result of detection of the position adjustment image;
• obtaining, with a surface sensor, surface data of the conveyed object at a position corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of head units;
• the adjusted image formation position in the orthogonal direction based on the surface data obtained;
• changing an origin of image data captured by the surface sensor;
• and
• moving, with a sensor moving device, the surface sensor to change the origin of image data.