Patent ID: 8147019
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A printing apparatus comprising: a print head having a plurality of print elements, a first print element array and a second print element array provided side by side with the first print element array including a plurality of print elements corresponding to the same color of ink and arranged at a predetermined pitch in an arranging direction, respectively, the print elements of the first print element array and the print elements of the second print element array being shifted from each other by an amount less than the predetermined pitch for forming an image on a print medium by scanning said print head in scan directions intersecting the arranging direction of the plurality of print elements; means for forming a plurality of adjustment patterns by a print operation of the first print element array associated with movement of said print head in one of the scan directions and a print operation of the second print element array associated with movement of said print head in the same one of the scan directions, in a manner that a drive timing of the first print element array relative to a drive timing of the second print element array is shifted by a predetermined interval such that the difference in drive timing between the first and second print element arrays for each adjustment pattern differs from that for the other adjustment patterns, the adjustment patterns being formed without a print operation of the first print element array or the second print element array associated with movement of said print head in the other of the scan directions; means for acquiring an adjustment value for adjusting relative positions of first print positions by the print operation of the first print element array associated with the movement of said print head in the scan directions and second print positions by the print operation of the second print element array associated with the movement of said print head in the scan directions based on the adjustment patterns; and means for storing the adjustment value.