Printing head inspecting device and method for printer

A printing head inspecting device for a printer including a printing head having an array of plural recording elements, and a moving mechanism for moving one of said printing head and recording material relative to a remainder thereof in a direction crosswise to an arranging direction of said recording elements, for printing at least one image to said recording material, said printing head inspecting device comprising:

• a controller for causing said moving mechanism to set said printing head sequentially to plural line positions in said recording material, and for, while said printing head is set in one of said line positions, driving said recording elements in such a manner that m adjacent recording elements of said recording elements according to said arranging direction are driven, and that n of said recording elements per said m recording elements are kept turned off, to print a check dot train to include m adjacent dots per one blank as large as n dots, where m is an integer equal to or more than 2, and n is an integer equal to or more than 2 and equal to or more than m, and for driving said recording elements in said manner with a difference in said line positions and a difference in said recording elements, to print first to (n+1)th check dot trains respectively to include m adjacent dots per one blank as large as n dots;
• and
• an inspection sensor for detecting said first to (n+1)th check dot trains, to inspect whether said recording elements print at intended density.

A printing head inspecting method for a printer including a printing head having an array of plural recording elements, and a moving mechanism for moving one of said printing head and recording material relative to a remainder thereof in a direction crosswise to an arranging direction of said recording elements, for printing at least one image to said recording material, said printing head inspecting method comprising steps of:

• causing said moving mechanism to set said printing head sequentially to plural line positions in said recording material;
• while said printing head is set in one of said line positions, driving said recording elements in such a manner that one of said recording elements is driven, and that n adjacent recording elements thereof per said one recording element are kept turned off according to said arranging direction, to print a check dot train to include one dot per one blank as large as n adjacent dots, where n is an integer equal to or more than 1, said recording elements being driven in said manner with a difference in said line positions and a difference in said recording elements, to print first to (n+1)th check dot trains respectively to include one dot per one blank as large as n adjacent dots;
• and
• detecting said first to (n+1)th check dot trains, to inspect whether said recording elements print at intended density.

A printing head inspecting method for a printer including a printing head having an array of plural recording elements, and a moving mechanism for moving one of said printing head and recording material relative to a remainder thereof in a direction crosswise to an arranging direction of said recording elements, for printing at least one image to said recording material, said printing head inspecting method comprising steps of:

• causing said moving mechanism to set said printing head sequentially to plural line positions in said recording material;
• while said printing head is set in one of said line positions, driving said recording elements in such a manner that m adjacent recording elements of said recording elements according to said arranging direction are driven, and that n of said recording elements per said m recording elements are kept turned off, to print a check dot train to include m adjacent dots per one blank as large as n dots, where m is an integer equal to or more than 2, and n is an integer equal to or more than 2 and equal to or more than m, said recording elements being driven in said manner with a difference in said line positions and a difference in said recording elements, to print first to (n+1)th check dot trains respectively to include m adjacent dots per one blank as large as n dots;
• and
• detecting said first to (n+1)th check dot trains, to inspect whether said recording elements print at intended density.

A printer comprising:

• a printing head having an array of plural recording elements;
• a moving mechanism for moving one of said printing head and recording material relative to a remainder thereof in a direction crosswise to an arranging direction of said recording elements, for printing at least one image to said recording material;
• a controller for causing said moving mechanism to set said printing head sequentially to plural line positions in said recording material, and for, while said printing head is set in one of said line positions, driving said recording elements in such a manner that one of said recording elements is driven, and that n adjacent recording elements thereof per said one recording element are kept turned off according to said arranging direction, to print a check dot train to include one dot per one blank as large as n adjacent dots, where n is an integer equal to or more than 1, and for driving said recording elements in said manner with a difference in said line positions and a difference in said recording elements, to print first to (n+1)th check dot trains respectively to include one dot per one blank as large as n adjacent dots;
• and
• an inspection sensor for detecting said first to (n+1)th check dot trains, to inspect whether said recording elements print at intended density.