Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and a print position adjusting method capable of easily adjusting a relative print position between nozzle lines are provided. Images are printed on a print medium in a drive mode A and a drive mode B by using a print head which has a first nozzle group including a plurality of ink ejection nozzle lines and a second nozzle group including a plurality of ink ejection nozzle lines. The drive mode A is a drive mode to drive only one of the first and second nozzle groups during one scan of the print head. The drive mode B is a drive mode to drive the first and second nozzle group at different timings during one scan of the print head. A print position adjust value for adjusting a relative print position between the nozzle lines in the drive mode A is retrieved. Depending on whether the print position adjust value is even or odd, a print position correction value for the first nozzle group and a print position correction value for the second nozzle group are determined.

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 ?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: 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: 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: A recording apparatus having a plurality of interfaces capable of communicating with external devices performs recording based on recording data input through any one of the plurality of interfaces. The recording apparatus determines which interface is used for receiving the recording data from the plurality of interfaces, and performs conversion processing on the recording data by increasing the amount of data in accordance with the determination result of which interface is used for receiving the recording data. The conversion processing changes depending on whether or not the interface used for receiving the recording data is an interface having a relatively high transfer rate (high speed interface).

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus utilizing an inkjet head and an ink tank for supplying ink to the same, it is made possible to suppress any reduction in image quality attributable to changes in physical and chemical properties of the ink that occur during an elapsed time from the manufacture of the ink tank to the use of the same, thereby allowing images to be formed with high reliability and stability at a low running cost. The apparatus has a discharging unit for discharging the ink through a nozzle at the head and an ink detecting unit for detecting the consumption of the ink in the ink tank. The detected ink consumption is compared with a threshold for ink consumption appropriately determined based on the elapsed time, and control is performed such that the amount discharged by the discharging unit is increased when the ink has not been consumed sufficiently.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus utilizing an inkjet head and an ink tank for supplying ink to the same, it is made possible to suppress any reduction in image quality attributable to changes in physical and chemical properties of the ink that occur during an elapsed time from the manufacture of the ink tank to the use of the same, thereby allowing images to be formed with high reliability and stability at a low running cost. The apparatus has a discharging unit for discharging the ink through a nozzle at the head and an ink detecting unit for detecting the consumption of the ink in the ink tank. The detected ink consumption is compared with a threshold for ink consumption appropriately determined based on the elapsed time, and control is performed such that the amount discharged by the discharging unit is increased when the ink has not been consumed sufficiently.

Abstract: Printing is performed on a printing medium by using an ink-jet printhead for discharging ink, multilevel printing is performed by multipass printing operation of executing main scanning operation of moving the printhead relative to the printing medium with respect to each print area while changing the number of ink droplets discharged to each pixel, and the number of scans to be performed to discharge ink droplets used to print a pixel with a low gray level value is made larger than the number of scans to be performed to discharge ink droplets used only to print a pixel with a high gray level value, thereby preventing the occurrence of density irregularity and streaks in a low gray level portion and printing a high-quality image.

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: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

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: 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. 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.

Abstract: One pixel is sub-divided on the basis of ejection ports. Pixel pattern are provided at respective quantization levels, each of which are defined using dots having different sizes. Image data is processed using a pixel pattern selected according to the type of printing medium and image quality to be achieved, and printing is performed using the image data. Only ejection ports ejecting ink droplets in the same size are driven at the same timing for ejection.

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: A system using discharge orifices having first ink orifices for discharging a first ink and second ink orifices for discharging a second ink which is more difficult to be hardened than the first ink, a cap for covering the discharge orifices, and a suction device for effecting suction through the discharge orifices when the cap covers the discharge orifices. The system includes covering both the first ink orifices and the second ink orifices collectively by the cap, effecting suction through both the first ink orifices and the second ink orifices by driving the suction device when the cap covers both the first ink orifices and the second ink orifices collectively, discharging, after sucking, both the first ink orifices and the second ink orifices into the cap, and exhausting, after discharging, ink out of the cap by driving the suction means when an inside of the cap communicates with air.

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 operation for a case wherein the calculated value of the elapsed time is negative.

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: To provide a liquid discharge head, a liquid discharge apparatus, a valve protection method of the liquid discharge head, and a maintenance device.

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.