Patent ID: 6334720
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A printing apparatus which uses a plurality of print heads and reciprocally scans the plurality of print heads at least at one kind of speed mode to perform printing, and for which correcting print positions of the plurality of print heads is performed, said apparatus comprising:adjustment pattern printing means for printing at least (2NMâˆ’1) kinds of print position deviation adjustment patterns, which include a combination of (Nâˆ’1) kinds of print position deviation adjustment patterns with respect to (Nâˆ’1) sets of two print heads selected from N print heads for adjusting a print position deviation between the two print heads of each of said (Nâˆ’1) sets of two print heads for each scan direction and a print position deviation adjustment pattern for adjusting a print position deviation for one print head between the different scan directions, where M (&gE;1) is a number of scan speeds of a print head subjected to correcting the print positions and N (&gE;2) is a number of print heads; calculating means for calculating a correction value for the print positions of the plurality of print heads based on inputs according to the at least (2NMâˆ’1) kinds of print position deviation adjustment patterns printed by said adjustment pattern printing means; and correcting means for correcting the print positions of the plurality of print heads based on the correction value calculated by said calculating means.