Printing apparatus, method of setting print position adjustment value, and printing method

A method of setting print position adjustment values for print positions resulting from different print agents in a printing apparatus that uses a print head capable of applying the different print agents to a printing medium, to execute printing on the printing medium, the method comprising:

• a step of printing a predetermined print position adjusting pattern on the printing medium by using the print head and at least one of the different print agents;
• a step of detecting, by using an optical sensor, optical characteristics of a part of the printing medium, in which the print position adjusting pattern is printed;
• and
• a step of setting an adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent, on the basis of a result of detection by the optical sensor,
• wherein the predetermined print position adjusting pattern is a pattern to be printed by using only the at least one of the different print agents, which can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor,
• wherein said pattern printing step prints the predetermined print position adjusting pattern by using the at least one print agent, among the different print agents, that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor,
• wherein said adjustment value setting step sets an adjustment value for print position resulting from a print agent that can be relatively inaccurately detected by the optical sensor on the basis of an adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor, the latter adjustment value being obtained from optical characteristics detected by the optical sensor of a part of the printing medium in which the predetermined print position adjusting pattern is printed by using the at least one print agent that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor, and
• wherein the print head ejects inks as the different print agents, and said adjustment value setting step substitutes, for an adjustment value for print position resulting from a first ink that can be relatively inaccurately detected by the optical sensor, an adjustment value for print position resulting from a second ink which is ejected from a position adjacent to a position from which the first ink is ejected and which can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor.

A printing method for printing on a printing medium by using a print head capable of applying different print agents to the printing medium, the method comprising:

• a step of printing a predetermined print position adjusting pattern on the printing medium by using the print head and at least one of the different print agents;
• a step of detecting optical characteristics of a part of the printing medium, by using an optical sensor, in which the print position adjusting pattern is printed;
• and
• a step of setting an adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent, on the basis of a result of detection by the optical sensor,
• wherein the predetermined print position adjusting pattern is a pattern to be printed by using only the at least one of the different print agents, which can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor,
• wherein said pattern printing step prints the predetermined print position adjusting pattern by using the at least one print agent, among the different print agents, that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor,
• wherein said adjustment value setting step sets an adjustment value for print position resulting from a print agent that can be relatively inaccurately detected by the optical sensor on the basis of an adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor, the latter adjustment value being obtained from optical characteristics detected by the optical sensor of a part of the printing medium in which the predetermined print position adjusting pattern is printed by using the at least one print agent that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor, and
• wherein the print head ejects inks as the different print agents, and said adjustment value setting step substitutes, for an adjustment value for print position resulting from a first ink that can be relatively inaccurately detected by the optical sensor, an adjustment value for print position resulting from a second ink which is ejected from a position adjacent to a position from which the first ink is ejected and which can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor.

A printing apparatus for printing on a printing medium by using a print head capable of ejecting different print agents to the printing medium, the apparatus comprising:

• printing means for printing a predetermined print position adjusting pattern on the printing medium by using the print head and at least one of the different print agents;
• detecting means for detecting the predetermined pattern printed on the printing medium;
• determining means for determining that an adjustment value for print position resulting from a print agent by which the predetermined pattern is printed is set either on the basis of a result of detection, by said detecting means, of the predetermined pattern printed by using the print agent or on the basis of a result of detection, by said detecting means, of the predetermined pattern printed by using another print agent, the determination being performed on the basis of a difference between a result of detection, by said detecting means, of an area on the printing medium on which the predetermined pattern is not printed and a result of detection, by said detecting means, of the predetermined pattern printed by using the print agent;
• and
• setting means for setting an adjustment value for print position of a print agent ejected from the print head, on the basis of a result of detection by said detecting means and a determination by said determining means.

A printing apparatus for printing on a printing medium by using a print head capable of applying different print agents to the printing medium, the apparatus comprising:

• an optical sensor for detecting optical characteristics of a part of the printing medium in which a predetermined pattern is printed;
• pattern print control means for printing the predetermined pattern on the printing medium by using the print head and at least one print agent;
• and
• adjustment value setting means for setting an adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent, on the basis of a result of detection by said optical sensor,
• wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern to be printed by using only the at least one print agent, which can be relatively accurately detected by said optical sensor,
• wherein said pattern print control means prints the predetermined pattern by using the at least one print agent, among the different print agents, that can be relatively accurately detected by said optical sensor,
• wherein said adjustment value setting means sets an adjustment value for print position resulting from a print agent that can be relatively inaccurately detected by said optical sensor on the basis of the adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent that can be relatively accurately detected by said optical sensor, and
• wherein the print head ejects inks as the different print agents, and said adjustment value setting means substitutes, for an adjustment value for print position resulting from a first ink that can be relatively inaccurately detected by said optical sensor, an adjustment value for print position resulting from a second ink which is ejected from a position adjacent to a position from which the first ink is ejected and which can be relatively accurately detected by said optical sensor.

A printing method for printing on a printing medium by using a print head capable of applying different print agents to the printing medium, the method comprising:

• a detecting step of detecting optical characteristics of a part of the printing medium in which a predetermined pattern is printed, using an optical sensor;
• a pattern print controlling step for printing the predetermined pattern on the printing medium by using the print head and at least one print agent;
• and
• an adjustment value setting step for setting an adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent, on the basis of a result of detection by the optical sensor,
• wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern to be printed by using only the at least one print agent, which can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor,
• wherein said pattern print controlling step prints the predetermined pattern by using the at least one print agent, among the different print agents, that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor,
• wherein said adjustment value setting step sets an adjustment value for print position resulting from a print agent that can be relatively inaccurately detected by the optical sensor on the basis of the adjustment value for print position resulting from the at least one print agent that can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor, and
• wherein the print head ejects inks as the different print agents, and said adjustment value setting step substitutes, for an adjustment value for print position resulting from a first ink that can be relatively inaccurately detected by the optical sensor, an adjustment value for print position resulting from a second ink which is ejected from a position adjacent to a position from which the first ink is ejected and which can be relatively accurately detected by the optical sensor.