# US 10,864,722 B2 · Liquid discharge apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,722 B2 - Document ID: US10864722B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/355,763 - Filed: 2019-03-17 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-19 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Ryuuta Katoh; Norimasa Sohgawa; Hiroki Takahashi - Inventors: Ryuuta Katoh; Norimasa Sohgawa; Hiroki Takahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864722B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/04588: {using a specific waveform} - B41J 2/04508: {aiming at correcting other parameters} - B41J 2/04568: {Control according to number of actuators used simultaneously} - B41J 2/04581: {controlling heads based on piezoelectric elements} - B41J 2/04593: {Dot-size modulation by changing the size of the drop} - B41J 2/17509: {Whilst mounted in the printer} - B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism - B41J 29/393: Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns} - B41J 2029/3935: {by means of printed test patterns} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head and a pattern printer. The liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid. The pattern printer drives the liquid discharge head to print a plurality of adjacent rectangular patterns under different drive conditions. The adjacent rectangular patterns are a reference pattern and an adjustment pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid discharge apparatus, comprising: a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid; a pattern printer to drive the liquid discharge head to print a plurality of adjacent rectangular patterns under different drive conditions, the adjacent rectangular patterns being a reference pattern and an adjustment pattern; a plurality of correction tables for multiplying a drive waveform to be given to the liquid discharge head by a magnification; and a selector to select a correction table to be used from among the plurality of correction tables. ### Claim 2 A liquid discharge apparatus, comprising: a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid; a pattern printer to drive the liquid discharge head to print a plurality of adjacent rectangular patterns under different drive conditions, the adjacent rectangular patterns being a reference pattern and an adjustment pattern; a plurality of correction tables for multiplying a drive waveform to be given to the liquid discharge head by a magnification; and a selector to select a correction table to be used from among the plurality of correction tables, wherein the rectangular patterns are printed with different numbers of the nozzles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correction table that minimizes a color difference between adjacent ones of the rectangular patterns is selected in accordance with a result of reading of the rectangular patterns. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction table that minimizes a color difference between adjacent ones of the rectangular patterns is selected in accordance with a result of reading of the rectangular patterns. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the correction table that minimizes a gap and an overlap at a boundary between adjacent ones of the rectangular patterns is selected in accordance with a result of reading of the rectangular patterns. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the correction table that minimizes deviation of colors within one screen is selected in accordance with a result of imaging of a boundary portion between adjacent ones of the rectangular patterns within the one screen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 4, wherein printing is performed while the rectangular patterns are changed in size depending on the drive conditions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction table that minimizes a gap and an overlap at a boundary between adjacent ones of the rectangular patterns is selected in accordance with a result of reading of the rectangular patterns. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction table that minimizes deviation of colors within one screen is selected in accordance with a result of imaging of a boundary portion between adjacent ones of the rectangular patterns within the one screen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed while the rectangular patterns are changed in size depending on the drive conditions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the rectangular patterns is printed on both sides or one side of another one of the rectangular patterns, the drive condition for the one of the rectangular patterns being different from the drive condition for the another one of the rectangular patterns. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein consecutive ones of the rectangular patterns are printed in one color or at least two different colors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein consecutive ones of the rectangular patterns are printed with nozzles being driven with one drive waveform or at least two different drive waveforms. ### Claim 14 A liquid discharge apparatus, comprising: a liquid discharge head including a plurality of nozzles to discharge liquid; and a pattern printer to drive the liquid discharge head to print a plurality of adjacent rectangular patterns under different drive conditions, the adjacent rectangular patterns being a reference pattern and an adjustment pattern, wherein consecutive ones of the rectangular patterns are printed with at least two types of liquid droplets of different droplet sizes, the at least two types including a non-discharge type. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein consecutive ones of the rectangular patterns are printed with a drive waveform obtained by multiplying a reference drive waveform by a constant magnification, regardless of the number of nozzles to discharge liquid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The liquid discharge apparatus of claim 2, wherein printing is performed while the rectangular patterns are changed in size depending on the drive conditions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The liquid discharge apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of the rectangular patterns is printed on both sides or one side of another one of the rectangular patterns, the drive condition for the one of the rectangular patterns being different from the drive condition for the another one of the rectangular patterns. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The liquid discharge apparatus of claim 2, wherein consecutive ones of the rectangular patterns are printed in one color or at least two different colors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The liquid discharge apparatus of claim 2, wherein consecutive ones of the rectangular patterns are printed with nozzles being driven with one drive waveform or at least two different drive waveforms. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2) The liquid discharge apparatus of claim 2, wherein consecutive ones of the rectangular patterns are printed with a drive waveform obtained by multiplying a reference drive waveform by a constant magnification, regardless of the number of nozzles to discharge liquid.