Abstract: In a serial recording apparatus having three recording modes, i.e., normal, high-quality, and high-speed recording mode, sheet feed control satisfying requirements in these modes is performed. More specifically, high-speed sheet feed control is performed in the normal or high-speed recording mode, and low-noise sheet feed control with improved precision is performed in the high-quality recording mode although the speed is low.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head for forming an image on a recording medium, a carriage for holding the recording head, capable of scanning in a main scanning direction, and a carrying mechanism for carrying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, wherein even with shift of the position of the carriage before scanning, scanning of the carriage is carried out after the carriage is located at a start position, or wherein a difference of the start position of the carriage upon each scanning is arranged to be a distance equal to an integral multiple of one period of phase of motor.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and method which can promptly and properly correct the deviation of an image printed position caused by the behavior of a print sheet transported when its back end slips out from between a pair of rollers during transportation. To attain this object, the present invention includes printing section for performing a printing operation on a print medium and a sheet transporting section comprising a pair of opposite rollers that transport a print medium by rotating while sandwiching the print sheet therebetween. Further, storage section stores positional information representative of the position (nip position) at which an end of a print medium P is sandwiched between the pair of rollers.

Abstract: An area on the printing sheet which can be printed through a single scanning operation of a printing head is divided into a plurality of smaller areas. The printing sheet is transported a distance corresponding to each divided area to print the image using different nozzles of the printing head for each divided area. When a back end portion of the printing sheet is printed, the distance transported is reduced to set inoperative nozzles that are not used for the printing operation. Then, when the printing sheet slips out from the upstream roller pair and it is then detected that the printing sheet is to be transported a distance longer than predetermined amount of rotation of the roller, the inoperative nozzles are used to shift an operative nozzle range depending on the extra amount of rotation. Thus, the extra transportation of the printing sheet is corrected.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to use a simple configuration to reduce the deviate of an image printed position caused by the behavior of a print sheet when the back end of the sheet slips out from an upstream roller pair. Thus, the present invention provides a printing apparatus including transporting section for transporting a print medium relative to printing heads for printing an image on a print sheet, the apparatus comprising vibrating section for vibrating the transporting section. This vibrating section vibrates the transporting section before the printing heads start a printing operation. Thus, even if the transporting section is stopped at an unstable position when a transporting operation is stopped, the applied vibration brings the transporting section into a stable state sufficiently before a printing operation is started.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes sheet stacking means for stacking sheets; sheet feeding means for feeding the sheets from the sheet stacking means; separating means for separating for separating the sheets one by one; returning means for returning the sheet other than the sheet separated by separating means toward the sheet stacking means; wherein the returning means effects its sheet returning operation when the sheet other than the sheet separated from the separating means passes through a predetermined position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing mechanism in which a groove portion in a shaft and a pawl portion on a bearing corresponding to the groove portion are not required and which can improve production efficiency and operability, and a conveying apparatus which has such a bearing mechanism and in which, when a driven roller is not located at an entire area of a sheet to be conveyed, a side edge of the sheet to be conveyed can be directed correctly not to damage the sheet to be conveyed after the sheet was discharged, and a recording apparatus having such a conveying apparatus. A bearing mechanism includes a pair of pinching portions for pinching both surfaces of a supporting plate, and a fixing portion, and further includes a guide member for directing a side edge of the sheet to be conveyed, and a sheet catching preventing protecting member.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus provided with the same, which are capable of maintaining a conveying force of a sheet feeding unit without using a further part.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a feed roller which feeds a paper sheet, a feed motor which drives the feed roller, and a loss-of-synchronism detecting unit which detects loss of synchronism of the feed motor. When loss of synchronism of the feed motor is detected by the loss-of-synchronism detecting unit, the rotational speed of the feed motor is reduced stepwise. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a high operational margin in the motor, and a recording apparatus, in which the motor and power supply costs are reduced, can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet feeding apparatus for separating and feeding sheets one by one, which has sheet stacking device for supporting sheets, a sheet feeding roller, provided at its periphery with a cylindrical surface and a cut-out portion, for feeding out the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking device by means of the cylindrical surface by rotating, separation device, capable of abutting against the sheet feeding roller, for separating the sheets one by one between the cylindrical surface of the sheet feeding roller and the separation device, spacing device for spacing apart the sheet feeding roller and the separation device when the cut-out portion of the sheet feeding roller is opposed to the separation device, biasing device for biasing the separation device to urge it against the sheet feeding roller or the spacing device, and conveying load reducing device for reducing a conveying load acting on the sheet being fed, by making an abutment force for pinching the sheet between the spacing

Abstract: A code printing method and apparatus which prints an image and a code on the same recording medium. The apparatus stores a plurality of density patterns corresponding to each density, and codes corresponding to the density patterns. When code data is inputted and printing of the code is instructed, the apparatus determines the density of each pixel of image data, selects the density pattern representing the code data among the density patterns corresponding to the pixel density, and prints the density pattern instead of the image pixel. Thus, the image and code are printed without deterioration of image quality.

Abstract: A sheet supplying apparatus has a sheet support for supporting sheets, and a sheet supply roller for feeding out the sheets supported by the sheet support. An abutment member is pivotally supported to be rocked between a regulating position to regulate a tip end of the sheets supported by the sheet support and a non-regulating position to allow supply of the sheets by the sheet supply roller. An operation unit shifts the abutment member from the regulating position to the non-regulating position when the sheets are supplied by the sheet supply roller and shifts the abutment member from the non-regulating position to the regulating position after the sheets are supplied.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method forms an ink jet image on a recording medium by serially moving an ink jet recording head having a plurality of ink discharge ports arranged in an array along a conveyance direction of the recording medium. The method includes the step of providing a platen having a planar section upstream in the conveyance direction and a slant section slanted downstream in the conveyance direction and in a direction parting from the ink discharge ports, opposed to an array of the ink discharge ports when the ink jet recording head serially moves. The method further includes the step of forming an ink jet image on the recording medium by ink discharge from the ink discharge ports when the ink jet recording head moves at least three times across a same area of the recording medium, a reverse side of which is supported by the platen.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus comprising a first feeding rotary body for feeding sheets, a second feeding rotary body located in facing to the first feeding rotary body for feeding the sheets between the second feeding rotary body and the first feeding rotary body upon pressing the sheets, an elastic shaft serving as a rotary center of the second feeding rotary body for urging the second feeding rotary body toward the first feeding rotary body and restricting means for restricting movements of the second feeding rotary body in multiple directions by contacting with the second feeding rotary body.

Abstract: An ink jet printing member mounted on a scanning carriage to discharge ink for recording while traveling with the carriage includes an extrusion that engages with a hook of the scanning carriage when this member is mounted on the carriage. This extrusion is arranged to dually function to identify the kind of the mounted ink jet printing member in accordance with the location of the extrusion and to secure the printing member on the carriage. With this arrangement, the structure is simplified to reduce the manufacturing costs significantly, while preventing the user from erroneously mounting an ink jet recording member on the carriage for an intended recording.

Abstract: A recovery device is described for use with a recording head of an ink jet recording apparatus. The recording head is mounted on a carriage which can reciprocate. The recovery device includes a cap for capping an ink discharge portion of the recording head when not in use, and a wiper for wiping out the ink discharge portion with a movement of the carriage. The wiper is disposed outside the cap relative to the recording area. The recording head does not pass through an area occupied by the wiper when the recording head performs a predischarge with respect to the cap during recording.

Abstract: In the sheet conveying apparatus, convey force of a convey device is changed according to the load applied to a recording sheet in order to constantly convey the recording sheet reliably. A rotary sheet discharge body has convex and concave portions in order to reliably discharge the recording sheet regardless of resistance applied to the recording sheet. Highly frictional material is provided only around the end portions of the rotary sheet discharge body in order to reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the facility of assembly.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing recording on a recording medium by use of a recording head, the recording apparatus comprises a carriage for reciprocal scanning of the recording head for recording on the recording medium, a guide for guiding the carriage in directions of the reciprocal scanning, and a positioning member and a press member located opposite to each other with the guide in between on the carriage, wherein the press member is not pressed against the guide in a region except for a predetermined region in a reciprocal scan region of the carriage and the press member is pressed against the guide in the predetermined region.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a recording head for forming an image on a recording medium, a carriage for holding the recording head, capable of scanning in a main scanning direction, and a carrying mechanism for carrying the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, wherein even with shift of the position of the carriage before scanning, scanning of the carriage is carried out after the carriage is located at a start position, or wherein a difference of the start position of the carriage upon each scanning is arranged to be a distance equal to an integral multiple of one period of phase of motor.

Abstract: A container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge is provided with the main body of a container for storing an ink jet cartridge having a recording head unit, and an ink tank unit containing ink to be supplied to the recording head unit, a lid element for covering the inlet and outlet of the main body of the container for storing or removing the ink jet cartridge, an elastic cap member provided in the main body of the container for covering the recording head unit. This container for safekeeping an ink jet cartridge comprises a rib arranged on the inner wall surface of the lid element for exerting pressure on the recording head unit of the ink jet cartridge to press it to the elastic cap member; and a recess arranged on the inner wall surface of the main body of the container in a position corresponding to the location where the elastic cap member is arranged.