Patent ID: 6039427
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A recording apparatus for printing on a recording medium by reciprocating a recording head having a linear array of recording elements along a main scanning direction to allow printing during both forward and backward scans of the recording head and effecting relative movement between the recording head and the recording medium in a subscanning direction between scans of the recording head in the main scanning direction, comprising:means for causing the recording head to print a plurality of adjustment patterns extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction by causing the recording head to print consecutive parts of each adjustment pattern in consecutive forward and backward scans of the recording head in the main scanning direction so that each adjustment pattern comprises three parts with the middle of the three parts being printed during scanning of the recording head in a direction opposite of that for the other two parts and with driving timings of the recording elements being selected so that different adjustment patterns have different degrees of misalignment in the main scanning direction between the middle part and the other two parts of the adjustment pattern; andmeans for controlling the drive timings of the recording elements during recording of an image based on the adjustment pattern which most closely resembles a straight line in the subscanning direction.