Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus has a recording mode in which recording is performed by selectively discharging black ink and color inks of colors other than black. Any abnormality in the state of discharge of the ink is performed by executing a test discharging operation. When the recording apparatus functions as a facsimile apparatus, the test discharging operation is conducted by discharging only the black ink, without discharging inks of other colors. Wasteful consumption of ink is diminished, so that the running cost of the ink jet recording apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus includes an image signal input portion which supplies three image signals C, M and Y associated with cyan, magenta and yellow; an image signal conversion processing portion which converts the image signals C, M and Y into six image signals associated with thick C and thin C, thick M and thin M, and thick Y and thin Y, respectively, by using a thick/thin sorting table; and a color masking processing portion which performs color masking process, and outputs converted six image signals associated with thick C to thin Y. The converted six image signals undergo a black generation process, a UCR process and a black printing process, and a binarization processing thereafter. This makes it possible to produce color images of high quality with high reproducibility even if the hues of N color materials, which belong to the same color family and have different densities, such as thin cyan and thick cyan, differ from each other to some extent.

Abstract: A plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks of different colors are reciprocally moved relative to a recording medium, and printing operations are performed by executing main scans in forward and backward scans of the recording heads. In this case, an area printable in a single main scan is recorded by performing a plurality of main scans using a plurality of thinning patterns in which an m.times.n pixel group is defined as a unit pixel group, and the pixel groups are arranged at non-neighboring positions, and which have a complementary arrangement relationship therebetween. A high-quality color image free from time difference nonuniformity, and density nonuniformity caused by, e.g., variations of recording elements is obtained at high speed.

Abstract: A high-quality image conforming to the scanning speed of a recording head can be recorded through a simple arrangement in which 128 recording elements (segments) are divided up into eight blocks (each block comprising 16 segments). In order to perform recording by the initial block, a code of the corresponding three bits is supplied to a 3to8 decoder, whereupon a signal BE1 is outputted to made segments 1, 2, 17, 18, . . . , 113, 114 the object of drive. When a signal ODDENB attains a high level, segments 1, 17, . . . , 113 are driven and dots are formed at recording column positions by each segment. By subsequently sending a signal EVENENB to the high level, segments 2, 18, . . . , 114 are driven. Here the interval between the signals ODDENB and EVENENB is changed in conformity with the scanning speed of the recording head.

Abstract: A color image recording apparatus that detects a non-uniformity in recorded pixels of a recorded color image. In the apparatus, a recording device has a plurality of recording units, each of the recording units having a plurality of nozzles which record different pixels, respectively. The plural recording units corresponding to a plurality of different color materials, respectively. The apparatus causes the nozzles of the recording device to form a color image including a plurality of recorded pixels, using a mixture of the plural colors, each of which has a constant density. A detector detects a density non-uniformity in the recorded pixels of the thus recorded color image including a plurality of recorded pixels and has an associated output. A controller controls of the nozzles in accordance with the density non-uniformity detected by the detector.

Abstract: A printer which performs accurate ink detection even if its operational environment has changed, and a facsimile apparatus using the printer. When printing of one page of print sheet has been completed, printhead is moved to a position opposite to ink detection position sensor and ink detection is performed. If it is determined that ink is exhausted, the printhead is moved in a printhead-moving direction by a slight amount (.+-..DELTA.L) from a normal detection position, and the ink detection is performed again. Printing is controlled based on the result of the retried detection. Print control may be performed such that upon estimating a residual ink amount (x), a value obtained from the result of ink detection is compared with two threshold values (TH1, TH2), and if TH1.ltoreq.x (sufficient ink remains) holds, the printing is performed; if TH2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.

Abstract: A recording head is provided with a plurality of recording elements. In the recording head, the number of record data can be counted accurately, following high-speed recording operation by counting only the number of drive data input via one signal line by means of a counter, from drive data input to two shift registers via signal lines according to a clock signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printer with a single printing motor and a single non-contact heating element characterized in that it includes a printing width and a paper path width greater than that of a double web width between 18.5" (46.99 cm) and 20.5" (52.07 cm), and selective control of the writing heads. The writing heads are controlled either in order to use them in a single group to print a centered double-width web, or to use them in two groups of heads to concomitantly print two single-width webs separated by a margin. Both groups of heads or each group of heads can be supplied with one color of ink.

Abstract: The ink jet apparatus of an ink jet printer includes an ink jet head. The head has an ink channel, a nozzle, and an actuator for ejecting ink from the channel through the nozzle. A drive unit can drive the actuator. A control unit generates print data, on which the control unit is based to control the drive unit. A stop pulse data generator carries out a logical operation of the print data for each print cycle Tm and the print data for the next print cycle Tm+1 to generate a predetermined stop pulse data if the former data is a data for execution of printing and if the latter data is a data for no execution of printing. After printing is executed in accordance with the print data for the cycle Tm, the drive unit is based on the stop pulse data to drive the actuator so as to damp the pressure wave vibration generated in the channel.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes K ejection electrodes and K gate electrodes corresponding to the K ejection electrodes, respectively, which are located at a distance from the K ejection electrodes. The K gate electrodes are divided into M blocks each having N gate electrodes electrically connected in common. A first voltage pulse is applied to a selected one of N groups each formed by electrically connecting an i.sup.th (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.N) ejection electrode for each block to each other and a second voltage pulse is applied to a selected one of the M blocks. A voltage difference is generated between a group and a block which are selected from the N groups and the M blocks depending on an input signal, wherein the voltage difference is equal to or greater than a minimum voltage difference which causes ejection of an ejection electrode.

Abstract: An image processor includes a first image information processing unit which processes image information with respect to a sheet medium. A first sheet medium feeding path guides the sheet medium to the first image information processing unit, and exhausts the sheet medium from the first image information processing unit. A second image information processing unit processes image information with respect to a sheet medium while allowing a head for processing image information to travel serially. The second information processing unit is arranged on a side lower than the first image information processing unit. A second sheet medium feeding path guides the sheet medium to the second image information processing unit, and exhausts the sheet medium from the second image information processing unit. An electric circuit board is arranged below the feeding path of the first sheet medium, and above the feeding path of the second sheet medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a liquid passage for ejection of ink; a liquid chamber for supplying ink to the passage; a device for mounting the recording head on the ink jet recording apparatus at an angle not more than 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane; wherein the chamber has an internal surface which is slanted in a direction from an ink inlet thereof toward the liquid passage at the angle of 5-40 degrees relative to an extension of the liquid passage.

Abstract: An ink jet print head includes a plural number of piezoelectric vibrators each consisting of a lower electrode film, a piezoelectric film and an upper electrode film. The piezoelectric film and the upper electrode film of each piezoelectric vibrator are formed within the region facing each pressure generating chamber. The lower electrode films interconnect portions of the regions facing the pressure generating chambers and are electrically continuous to a wiring pattern connected to an external circuit, and in each of the portions of the regions facing the pressure generating chambers, each portion not having the piezoelectric vibrator is removed except a part thereof. Such a structure secures a satisfactory function of the lower electrode layer as a common electrode, increases a quantity of displacement of the piezoelectric vibrator while keeping a low compliance, increases an ink discharging speed, and reduces a drive voltage.

Abstract: A recording apparatus which is provided with a plurality of heads accompanied with temperature rise in recording by the application of driving signals comprises means for detecting the temperature in apparatus to detect temperatures in the recording apparatus; means for obtaining the temperature of the recording head from an offset value set between the temperature in apparatus and the temperature of the recording head of the recording apparatus in accordance with the detection by the aforesaid means for detecting the temperature in apparatus; and means for controlling the driving signal to change the waveforms of the driving signal applied to the recording head.

Abstract: A length of a melamine foamed block to be accommodated in an ink tank housing as measured in the longitudinal direction is dimensioned to be larger than a length of the ink tank housing as measured in the longitudinal direction. Thus, while the foamed block is accommodated in the ink tank housing, it is compressed in the direction orienting toward an ink feeding port from which ink is fed to a printing head, i.e., in the ink feeding direction. Consequently, the ink retaining force induced by the capillary force is not intensified in the compressing direction of the melamine foamed block, resulting in an ink feeding capability of the printing head being improved. On the contrary, the ink retaining force effective at a right angle relative to the compressing direction of the melamine foamed block is intensified.

Abstract: A wiping mechanism for wiping an ink ejection side surface of an ink jet head for effecting recording by ejection of ink through ejection outlets includes a wiper for wiping the ejection side surface; and control mechanism for controlling operation of the wiper member in accordance with arrival of a carriage carrying the ink jet head and moving in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dot forming method and a recording apparatus, suitable for unprocessed recording medium, such as plain paper having fluctuation in its ink absorbing ability, or a plastic sheet with low ink absorbing ability. At the formation of each pixel with plural dots, the dots are so distributed that they are not continuous but are mutually complementary in the transverse and longitudinal directions of the pixel and also at least in the boundary area of adjacent pixels.

Abstract: An ink jet printer of the type having a replaceable printhead assembly with a usage monitoring system detects and displays the remaining available use or lifetime for the printhead assembly installed in the printer. The droplet ejecting electrical pulses applied to selected heating elements of the printhead in the printhead assembly are counted and compared with the number of pulses assigned to a set of permanently inactivable or changeable cell sites integral with the printhead assembly. Each time the number of counted pulses are equal to the value assigned for a cell site, the cell site is addressed to change its state from active to inactive. The remaining active cell sites are representative of the percent of remaining available use for the installed printhead assembly, and this percentage is displayed for the convenience of the customer. Because the cell sites are permanently changed, the supplier can also determine the amount of use of the printhead assembly when warranty claims are submitted.

Abstract: A recording apparatus builds an image at high quality without occurrence of malfunctions attributable to raised/recessed spots on the surface of a conveyance belt and insufficient dimensioning for the width of the conveyance belt, while preventing the interior of the recording apparatus from being contaminated with erroneously ejected ink. The recording apparatus includes a conveyance belt for conveying a recording sheet below four kinds of recording heads, and the conveyance belt has a joint line along which the opposite ends of a band-shaped material are joined to each other. In addition, the conveyance belt has a band-shaped colored portion which is located remote from the joint line by a predetermined distance. The colored portion is detected by an optical sensor, and a control unit controls the driving of the conveyance belt in response to a signal derived from the detection of the optical sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising recording means for forming an image on a sheet, discharge means for discharging the sheet on which the image was formed by the recording means, and an outer cover for convering a body of the recording apparatus. Wherein a deep recess is formed in a side wall portion of the cover, and the discharge means is arranged in a deep area of the recess, and the sheets discharged by the discharge means are stacked on a bottom surface of the recess. Whereby, the visual observation of the discharged sheet can be made more easy, the removal of the jammed sheet can be facilitated, and the recording means can easily be exchanged.