Bidirectional printer and printing position adjustment method for the same
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorHironori Endo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustment value for printing deviation between forward and reverse printing passes is set for each width of printing paper. The printing deviation is adjusted by, for example, varying, in the main scanning direction, the frequency of the drive clock signal applied to the print head. The drive clock signal frequency is individually set for each of a plurality of regions into which the main scanning range is divided.
Claims20
A printer that is able to bi-directionally print images on a printing medium during reciprocal main scanning in each direction, the printer comprising:
- a print head;
- a drive mechanism that effects relative movement between at least the print head and the printing medium in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction and drives the print head to print on the printing medium;
- and
- a controller that controls the drive mechanism, the controller including,
- an adjustment value memory for storing a plurality of adjustment values associated with a plurality of printing media having different widths in the main scanning direction;
- and
- a printing deviation adjuster which selects one or more working adjustment values from said plurality of adjustment values according to a width of the printing medium actually used for printing, and adjusts printing positions in the main scanning direction on at least one of forward and reverse passes using the one or more working adjustment values so as to reduce printing deviation on at least one of the forward pass and the reverse pass.
A printer that is able to bi-directionally print images on a printing medium during reciprocal main scanning in each direction, the printer comprising:
- a print head;
- a drive mechanism that effects relative movement between at least the print head and the printing medium in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction and drives the print head to print on the printing medium;
- and
- a controller that controls the drive mechanism, including,
- a variable frequency drive clock generator that generates a drive clock signal that can be set to a plurality of frequency settings along the main scanning direction and that applies the drive clock signal to the print head during at least one of a forward pass and a reverse pass so as to reduce printing deviation on at least one of the forward pass and the reverse pass.
A method of adjusting printing position in a main scanning direction for a printer that is able to bi-directionally print images on a printing medium with a print head during reciprocal main scanning in each direction, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of adjustment values associated with a plurality of printing media having a plurality of widths in the main scanning direction;
- selecting a working adjustment value from the plurality of adjustment values according to the width of the printing medium actually used for printing;
- and
- adjusting printing positions in the main scanning direction on at least one of forward and reverse passes with the working adjustment value so as to reduce printing deviation on the forward and reverse passes.
A method of adjusting printing position in a main scanning direction for a printer that is able to bi-directionally print images on a printing medium with a print head during reciprocal main scanning in each direction, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating a drive clock signal that is applied to the print head;
- and
- setting a frequency of the drive clock signal at plural values on a main scan range directed along the main scanning direction during at least one of a forward pass and a reverse pass so as to reduce printing deviation on at least one of a forward pass and a reverse pass.
A printer that is able to bidirectionally print images on a printing medium during reciprocal main scanning in each direction, the printer comprising:
- a print head;
- a drive mechanism that effects relative movement between at least the print head and the printing medium in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction and drives the print head to print on the printing medium;
- and
- a controller that controls the drive mechanism, the controller including a printing deviation adjuster that adjusts printing positions in the main scanning direction on at least one of a forward pass and a reverse pass so that the printing positions in the main scanning direction on the forward and reverse passes are made to substantially coincide, wherein the printing deviation adjuster applies a plurality of adjustment values at a plurality of positions of the print head in the main scanning direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.