Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet recording method that allows a time for ink to penetrate into the recording medium and to be fixed thereto, and prevents density irregularity, color unevenness, blot between colors, and stain of the recording medium caused by contact between the recording head and the recording medium. When conducting multi-pass recording comprising the step of executing a plurality of runs of main scanning to each recording area while relatively moving the recording head which discharges ink on the recording medium, it is made possible to select a recording mode from a plurality of recording modes of different numbers of runs of main scanning, and a rest period, during which recording is discontinued after each run of main scanning, is set in response to the number of runs of main scanning corresponding to the selected recording mode.

Abstract: Printing is performed by scanning a printhead unit in which the first nozzle array on which a plurality of nozzles for discharging the first ink are arrayed and the second nozzle array on which a plurality of nozzles for discharging the second ink are arrayed on a printing medium in a direction crossing to a direction of the nozzle array, the first and second nozzle arrays are arranged side by side in the direction crossing to the direction of the nozzle array so as to locate the first nozzles at the same position in a printing medium convey direction, and the number of nozzles of the second nozzle array is twice or more the number of nozzles of the first nozzle array.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus which prints by scanning a printhead having an array of printing elements on a printing medium in a direction crossing to a direction of the array, when a test pattern for verifying the printing characteristic of each printing element is to be printed, adjacent printing elements are driven in parallel to print a straight pattern with a predetermined length in the scanning direction. Printing of a straight pattern is executed a plurality of number of times so as to use all the printing elements for printing at least one straight pattern. In the printed test pattern, variations between the printing characteristics of printing elements that do not pose any problem in actual printing do not stand out. A printing element which degrades the image quality upon actual printing can be determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording high-quality images in which not only color shading caused in the process of reciprocating recording is prevented, but also bleeding between colors inherent in a multi-pass recording method is reduced. The position of the top of ejection orifices in a second ejection orifice row for ejecting color ink is spaced a length away from a first ejection orifice row for ejecting black ink. The length is determined according to values m, n and such a condition that the value a makes (m+a) an even number. Under the circumstances, recording is performed by reciprocating scanning, which makes differences in recording time between colors equal to each other.

Abstract: Printing of a unit pixel (1/D=1/600) in 4-pass printing (64 nozzles, and a total sheet supply amount of 62/600 in four operations) is exemplified in an image printing apparatus capable of printing a uniform, high-quality image while avoiding printing of a visually nonuniform image in multipass printing of two or more passes. With an image printing apparatus as described herein, satellites can be uniformly printed on the right and left of a unit pixel.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus using a printhead having an array of printing elements in which a plurality of printing elements are arranged in a predetermined direction, the printing apparatus performing printing by scanning the printhead over a printing medium in a direction crossing to the predetermined direction on the basis of information transmitted from a host apparatus, print data transmitted from the host apparatus is stored in a buffer, printing by the scanning is started when the print data stored in the buffer reaches a first amount that is smaller than an amount of print data to be printed on the printing medium by the printhead by one scanning, the scanning is interrupted when storage of the print data in the buffer is delayed during the scanning, and when, after the interruption, subsequent print data stored in the buffer reaches a second amount, the interrupted scanning is executed to complete printing by one scanning.

Abstract: A printing apparatus receives, from a host apparatus, print data, and block size information of a block which is generated on the basis of the main scanning printing width and ensured in a print buffer. A block corresponding to the received block size information is ensured in the print buffer, and the print data is stored in the print buffer. The CPU of the printing apparatus controls printing by the printhead on the basis of the print data stored in the print buffer.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus which performs printing by scanning a printhead having printing elements arrayed in a predetermined direction on a printing medium in a direction crossing to the array direction on the basis of information transmitted from a host apparatus, stores print data transmitted from the host apparatus, and has a buffer smaller in capacity than a print data amount printed on the printing medium by one scanning of the printhead, the buffer is divided into a plurality of blocks corresponding to rectangular regions printed by scanning. The use order of the blocks is so managed as to circularly store print data in the blocks along with the progress of printing. When print data representing non-driving of the printing elements successively exist in a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount of print data is represented by specific control data without storing the predetermined amount of print data in the blocks.

Abstract: A printing apparatus receives, from a host apparatus, main scanning/printing direction information representing the main scanning/printing direction of a printhead. The printing apparatus stores, in a print buffer, print data corresponding to the printing direction represented by the main scanning/printing direction information generated by the host apparatus. The CPU of the printing apparatus controls printing by the printhead on the basis of the main scanning/printing direction information and the print data stored in the print buffer.

Abstract: A printing apparatus performs printing by scanning a printhead having an array of printing elements in which a plurality of printing elements are arranged in a predetermined direction, over a printing medium according to control information and image data transmitted from a host apparatus. Setting information designating some of the printing elements to be used for printing in the printing elements in the printhead according to a predetermined printing parameter is transmitted as control information from the host apparatus to the printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus, the printing elements to be used are set according to the setting information. Data to be printed by the printing elements used for printing in correspondence with scanning is generated in the host apparatus and transmitted as image data from the host. The printing apparatus performs printing by driving the set printing elements by the setting means according to the image data during scanning.

Abstract: A printing apparatus receives block size information of a block which is generated on the basis of the performance of a host apparatus for a print buffer for storing print data of each block and serves as a storage unit in the print buffer. Print data generated based on the performance of the host apparatus for each block corresponding to the received block size information is stored in the print buffer. The CPU in the printing apparatus controls printing by the printhead on the basis of the print data stored in the print buffer.

Abstract: To reduce the data processing load on a recording apparatus, an information processing apparatus and the recording apparatus cooperate to correct registration errors. The information processing apparatus divides a recording area of the recording apparatus into a plurality of partial areas and makes a first correction on a recording position of image data for each partial area; the correction is made for color data items and in pixels. The information processing apparatus generates image data that conforms to the corrected recording position, as well as setting information for controlling the recording apparatus to record the image data (S115). The recording apparatus makes a second correction on the recording position of the image data in fractions of a pixel based on the setting information generated by the information processing apparatus and controls recording of the image data based on the corrected recording position (S125).

Abstract: Print codes supplied from a host computer are received and analyzed to generate print data for the individual colors, and the generated print data are stored in print buffers corresponding to the colors. The print data corresponding to yellow ink with high lightness is expressed by binary data, and is printed by one dot per pixel by a single print scan. The print data corresponding to each of the remaining high-density (thick) inks is expressed by multi-valued data having a larger number of bits than the yellow data, and is printed by a plurality of print scans.

Abstract: The invention intends to maintain a constant ink discharge amount among the recording heads, even in case a total pulse width of pulse voltages applied to heat generating resistors. For this purpose, a rank table is prepared in such a manner, even in a situation where a total pulse width of the pulses applied to the heat generating resistor is 3 &mgr;s or less whereby the ink discharge amount decreases with a decrease in the total pulse width, that a maximum reached temperature on the surface of the heat generating resistors at the application of a preheat pulse becomes higher with a decrease in the resistance of a rank resistor, and a pulse width P1 on the rank table is made longer thereby compensating a decrease in the ink discharge amount with a decrease in the total pulse width and maintaining a constant ink discharge amount.

Abstract: An in-jet printing apparatus having a temperature detection device for outputting a signal in correspondence with a temperature, performs printing by using an ink-jet printhead which performs printing on a recording medium by discharging ink. A flag indicating whether acquisition of the temperature information is necessary or not is set, and the temperature information is obtained in accordance with the status of the flag, after the power on of the apparatus. The obtained temperature information is stored into a nonvolatile storage device. The temperature information can be obtained at appropriate timing in accordance with necessity, even if the power is interrupted during the operation. Thus a high-quality printed output can be obtained by performing a stable printing operation.

Abstract: It is checked whether an ink used in a printhead has a high density. The type of a printing medium used for a print operation is also identified. An image is printed by scanning the printhead once or a plurality of times. When a print operation is to be performed by using a thick ink, an image is printed by using mask data and the driving frequency of the head which are set for the thick ink. When a print operation is to be performed by using a thin ink, an image is printed by using mask data and the driving frequency of the head which are set for the thin ink and the type of printing medium used for the print operation. Codes of the respective color data of print data are determined in accordance with the types of inks used for a print operation, and an image is printed by printing a plurality of dots or dots in an overlapping state by the multi-pass method.

Abstract: A printer having storing means storing time information indicating the time at which cleaning operations were last performed, with the initial value of time information stored in the storing means being set to a time later than the shipment of the printer. Elapsed time between the time information stored in the storing means and the current time is calculated when a user gives the printer an instruction to start printing operations. The printer performs suitable cleaning operations for a case wherein the calculated value of the elapsed time is negative.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus uses a recording head having discharge ports to discharge ink, and records by discharging ink from the recording head while enabling said recording head to travel in the direction of main scan. This apparatus comprises a recording head which is provided integrally with a plurality of recording units having a plurality of discharge port arrays for discharging ink of different colors, respectively, and then, the plurality of recording units are arranged in the direction of main scan to discharge ink of different densities, respectively. With the structure thus arranged, the recording in all the colors is not executed at a time thus making it possible to obtain an excellent image with a lesser deterioration of image due to ink blur and the like.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head provided with a pair of substrates mutually adjoined in a laminar state, plural liquid flow paths formed on the adjoined surface of said substrates, plural drive elements respectively formed in a predetermined position of said liquid flow paths, and orifices communicating with ends of said liquid flow paths in which liquid discharged from said orifice by the action of said drive element, wherein a face constituting an external surface of a member forming said orifices is coated with a material with superhydrophilicity.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inkjet printing apparatus for forming an image by repeatedly causing the scanning of a printhead that prints an image in a scan area using inks of a plurality of types. Residual duty, which is obtained by quantifying the mixed state of the inks used in printing the image in the scan area, is defined. The residual duty with regard to the next scan area is found from image data, the scanning direction for printing in the next scan area is decided based upon the residual duty, and the area is printed in the scanning direction that has been decided. Thus, back-and-forth scanning and unidirectional scanning are used jointly in appropriate fashion in accordance with the printed image. As a result, high-quality printing of an image becomes possible and a higher printing speed is achieved.