In sensor determination processing, each of a transmission-type optical sensor and a reflection-type optical sensor detects a label position, and first transport for transporting the printing medium is executed so that a first label position, which is detected by a first sensor succeeding in detecting the label position first, arrives at a printing position. When the first transport is terminated before a second sensor being another sensor succeeds in detecting a label position during the first transport, a first sensor is determined as a sensor to be used for detecting a label position. When the second sensor succeeds in detecting a label position during the first transport, a sensor succeeding in detecting the first label position or a second label position detected by the second sensor, which is closer to the printing position, is determined as the sensor to be used for detecting a label position.

A printer includes: a transport roller for transporting recording paper in a transport direction; a head for printing on the recording paper; a cutter disposed downstream of the head in the transport direction and configured to cut the recording paper; a first sensor disposed downstream of the cutter in the transport direction and configured to detect the recording paper; a communication section configured to receive print data; and a controller. The controller detects the recording paper by using the first sensor at least at startup, when the recording paper is detected, the recording paper is transported by the transport roller and is cut by the cutter, whereas when the recording paper is not detected, the recording paper is not transported by the transport roller and is not cut by the cutter, and when the communication section receives the print data, the controller performs printing on the recording paper by using the head.

Disclosed is droplet ejecting apparatus that ejects droplets of a functional liquid onto a workpiece to draw a pattern. The droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a workpiece table; a droplet ejecting head configured to eject the droplets onto the workpiece placed on the workpiece table; a movement mechanism configured to relatively move the workpiece table and the droplet ejecting head in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit configured to: detect a position of the workpiece or a position of the workpiece table while relatively moving the workpiece table and the droplet ejecting head along a plurality of scanning lines extending in the main scanning direction and set side by side in the sub-scanning direction; and create, based on a detection result, a correction table that indicates a correlation between a position of the movement mechanism and a positional correction amount of the workpiece table.

Disclosed is droplet ejecting apparatus that ejects droplets of a functional liquid onto a workpiece to draw a pattern. The droplet ejecting apparatus includes: a workpiece table; a droplet ejecting head configured to eject the droplets onto the workpiece placed on the workpiece table; a movement mechanism configured to relatively move the workpiece table and the droplet ejecting head in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit configured to: detect a position of the workpiece or a position of the workpiece table while relatively moving the workpiece table and the droplet ejecting head along a plurality of scanning lines extending in the main scanning direction and set side by side in the sub-scanning direction; and create, based on a detection result, a correction table that indicates a correlation between a position of the movement mechanism and a positional correction amount of the workpiece table.

A printer according to an embodiment includes a conveying unit, a holding unit, a supporting unit, a second detecting unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys paper. The holding unit includes a light emitting unit configured to radiate light and a first detecting unit configured to detect the light reflected on the paper. The supporting unit supports the holding unit to be movable in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the paper. The second detecting unit is disposed on an opposite side of the light emitting unit across a paper conveying path, on which the conveying unit conveys the paper, and detects the light radiated by the light emitting unit. The control unit determines, based on a detection result of the second detecting unit, whether the light emitting unit is present in a position opposed to the second detecting unit.

A printer according to an embodiment includes a conveying unit, a holding unit, a supporting unit, a second detecting unit, and a control unit. The conveying unit conveys paper. The holding unit includes a light emitting unit configured to radiate light and a first detecting unit configured to detect the light reflected on the paper. The supporting unit supports the holding unit to be movable in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the paper. The second detecting unit is disposed on an opposite side of the light emitting unit across a paper conveying path, on which the conveying unit conveys the paper, and detects the light radiated by the light emitting unit. The control unit determines, based on a detection result of the second detecting unit, whether the light emitting unit is present in a position opposed to the second detecting unit.

A tape having a strip shape extending in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction includes: a subject surface located on the tape and exposed in a thickness direction; a first marker provided on the subject surface and being greater than the subject surface in reflectivity to light with a particular wavelength; and a second marker provided on the subject surface and being less than the subject surface in the reflectivity. At least a portion of the first marker and at least a portion of the second marker are identical to each other in position in the widthwise direction. At least a portion of one of the first marker and the second marker and at least a portion of another of the first marker and the second marker are different from each other in position in the lengthwise direction.

A tape having a strip shape extending in a lengthwise direction and a widthwise direction includes: a subject surface located on the tape and exposed in a thickness direction; a first marker provided on the subject surface and being greater than the subject surface in reflectivity to light with a particular wavelength; and a second marker provided on the subject surface and being less than the subject surface in the reflectivity. At least a portion of the first marker and at least a portion of the second marker are identical to each other in position in the widthwise direction. At least a portion of one of the first marker and the second marker and at least a portion of another of the first marker and the second marker are different from each other in position in the lengthwise direction.

In a printing method, at least one image of a substrate supported in a printing system is acquired. An actual position of a first alignment feature on the substrate in a frame of reference of the printing system is determined based on the at least one image. Expected positions of second alignment features on the substrate are determined based on the actual position of the first alignment feature. Actual positions of the second alignment features in the frame of reference of the printing system are determined based on the at least one image and the expected positions of the second alignment features. Target positions of print regions on the substrate are determined based on the actual positions of the second alignment features. Ejection of print material onto the substrate in the print regions is controlled based on the target positions of the print regions.

An example method comprises operating a drive unit to advance a substrate in a substrate advance direction toward a printing station. At the printing station, a first line is printed onto the substrate. A drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate in the substrate advance direction by a target amount, and a second line is printed onto the substrate. The distance between the first and second lines in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advance direction is calculated and, based on the calculated difference, a tension of the substrate is modified.