# US 2018/0022124 A1 · Gap adjustment method of an ink jet device and an ink jet device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022124 A1 - Document ID: US20180022124A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/546,665 - Filed: 2016-04-08 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-09 - Assignees: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Akihiro ONODERA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022124A1 ## CPC - B41J 3/40731: {Holders for objects, e. g. holders specially adapted to the shape of the object to be printed or adapted to hold several objects} - B41J 2/01: Ink jet - B41J 2/04505: {aiming at correcting alignment} - B41J 2/2135: {Alignment of dots} - B41J 3/4073: {Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112)} - B41J 11/008: {Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins} - B41J 11/20: Platen adjustments for varying the strength of impression, for a varying number of papers, for wear or for alignment {, or for print gap adjustment} - B41J 25/308: with print gap adjustment mechanisms - B41J 29/38: Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism - B41J 29/46: Applications of alarms, e.g. responsive to approach of end of line - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract A gap adjustment method of an ink jet device includes a head unit with an ink discharge port that discharges ink, a carriage that is provided with the head unit and moves in a main scanning direction, a print medium provided with a gap with respect to the ink discharge port, and a gap driving unit that adjusts a length of the gap. The gap adjustment method includes a discharging process (step ST4) and a gap adjusting process (step ST5 to step ST56). In the discharging process (step ST4), ink is discharged in each of a forward path and a backward path while reciprocating the carriage in the main scanning direction. In the gap adjusting process, a forward path landing position and a backward path landing position, and an optimum landing position determined in advance are compared, and the length of the gap is adjusted with the gap driving unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gap adjustment method of an ink jet device, wherein the ink jet device includes a head unit with an ink discharge port that discharges ink, a carriage that is provided with the head unit and moves in a main scanning direction, a landing target object provided with a gap with respect to the ink discharge port, and a gap adjustment means that adjusts a length of the gap; wherein the gap adjustment method comprises: a discharging process of discharging ink from the ink discharge port while reciprocating the carriage in the main scanning direction, and landing an ink droplet to each of a forward path landing position, which is a position on the landing target object the ink droplet is to be landed in a forward path of the carriage, and a backward path landing position, which is a position on the landing target object the ink droplet is to be landed in a backward path of the carriage; and a gap adjusting process of comparing actual measurement values based on the forward path landing position and the backward path landing position the ink droplet actually lands in the discharging process, and optimum values based on respective optimum landing positions of the forward path landing position and the backward path landing position determined in advance according to a desired gap, and adjusting the length of the gap with the gap adjustment means based on a shift of the actual measurement values and the optimum values. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the length of the gap is carried out based on a separated distance of the actual measurement values of the forward path landing position and the backward path landing position and/or a position relationship of each other in the main scanning direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the discharging process, the ink droplet is landed at three or more areas in each of the forward path and the backward path, and an interval of discharging the ink in the forward path and an interval of discharging the ink in the backward path are differed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 3, wherein in the discharging process, a moving speed of the carriage when discharging the ink from the ink discharge port is constant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 4, wherein in the discharging process, information contributing to determining a degree of adjusting the length of the gap in the gap adjusting process is provided on the landing target object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the discharging process, the ink is landed on a thin film attached to the landing target object in a strippable manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 3, wherein in the discharging process, an interval of discharging the ink to land the ink droplet at three or more areas in the forward path is constant, and an interval of discharging the ink to land the ink droplet at three or more areas in the backward path is constant. ### Claim 8 An ink jet device comprising: a head unit with an ink discharge port that discharges ink, a carriage that is provided with the head unit and that moves in a main scanning direction, a landing target object provided with a gap with respect to the ink discharge port, and a gap adjustment means that adjusts a length of the gap; wherein ink is discharged from the ink discharge port while reciprocating the carriage in the main scanning direction, and an ink droplet is landed to each of a forward path landing position, which is a position on the landing target object the ink droplet is to be landed in a forward path of the carriage, and a backward path landing position, which is a position on the landing target object the ink droplet is to be landed in a backward path of the carriage to form a check pattern on the landing target object; and a length of the gap is adjusted with the gap adjustment means based on the check pattern. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ink jet device as set forth in claim 8, further comprising: a position determining means that define the forward path landing position and the backward path landing position of the landing target object in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction when forming the check pattern; and a head position adjustment means that positions the ink discharge port at an appropriate position with respect to the forward path landing position and the backward path landing position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 2, wherein in the discharging process, the ink droplet is landed at three or more areas in each of the forward path and the backward path, and an interval of discharging the ink in the forward path and an interval of discharging the ink in the backward path are differed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 10, wherein in the discharging process, a moving speed of the carriage when discharging the ink from the ink discharge port is constant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 11, wherein in the discharging process, information contributing to determining a degree of adjusting the length of the gap in the gap adjusting process is provided on the landing target object. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The gap adjustment method of the ink jet device as set forth in claim 10, wherein in the discharging process, an interval of discharging the ink to land the ink droplet at three or more areas in the forward path is constant, and an interval of discharging the ink to land the ink droplet at three or more areas in the backward path is constant.