Patent ID: 6609777
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An method for determining an adjustment value used to reduce dot formation position misalignment in a main scanning direction where printing is performed using a printing apparatus having a print head that includes nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto a printing medium while carrying out bi-directional main scanning in which at least one of the print head and the printing medium is moved, the method comprising the steps of:(a) providing an inspection unit for optical detection of passage of ink droplets ejected from a nozzle; (b) carrying out a forward pass test to detect the ink droplets using the inspection unit while ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle and moving the print head in a forward pass of the main scanning; (c) carrying out a reverse pass test to detect the ink droplets using the inspection unit while ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle and moving the print head in a reverse pass of the main scanning; and (d) determining the adjustment value based on the results of the forward pass test and the reverse pass test.