Abstract: A method of forming a test pattern in a printer, wherein the printer may include at least one liquid discharge head including a nozzle plate, and the nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzles formed therethrough, wherein the plurality of nozzles are configured to discharge a liquid and are arranged in a plurality of rows which are parallel to each other and extend in a particular direction, the method may comprise the steps of selecting a first nozzle of the plurality of nozzles from a first row of the plurality of rows, selecting a second nozzle of the plurality of nozzles from a second row of the plurality of rows, and discharging the liquid from the first nozzle and from the second nozzle onto a medium, wherein a third row of the plurality of rows is positioned between the first row and the second row.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a head having openings; a sheet-moving mechanism; a drive-data storage portion storing drive data; a converting section which converts the drive data such that an image position adjustment is changed; a first extracting section which extracts at least one opening whose number of ejections during the recording on at least one sheet of a first number based on unconverted drive data is smaller than a second number; a second extracting section which extracts at least one opening whose number of ejections during the recording on at least one sheet of a third number based on converted drive data is smaller than a fourth number; and a controller which controls the ejection such that a preliminary ejection from at least one opening extracted by the first and second extracting sections is performed upon recordings based on the unconverted drive data and the converted drive data.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data transmitting apparatus for transmitting data including a plurality of data elements, each of which is a bit sequence of a plurality of bits. At least one bit in the bit sequence of a first one of the kinds of data elements that most frequently occurs has the same value as a bit at a corresponding place in the bit sequence of a second one of the kinds of data elements that second most frequently occurs. The data-block generating portion generates a data block, by rearranging the bit sequences of the data elements of the raw data such that bits at the same place in the respective bit sequences as each of the at least one bit are arranged in a series in the data block. The data compressing portion creates a compressed file. The transmitting portion transmits the compressed file.

Abstract: A data transmission apparatus transmits data relating to an image to be recorded on a recording medium to an ink-jet recording apparatus including a line-type ink-jet head which is formed with an ejection face having a plurality of ejection openings arranged in a matrix. A data generation unit included in the data transmission apparatus generates an image data block including a plurality of dot data lines each formed for each of the ejection openings. The dot data line is made up of a plurality of dot data elements corresponding to a plurality of dots arranged in a conveyance direction in the image to be recorded on the recording medium with an arrangement order of the plurality of dot data elements being according to an arrangement order of the corresponding dots in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: In a data transmission apparatus, each dot data element is one of a predetermined number of kinds. The data transmitting apparatus includes a template-data generating portion generating template data from the image data by initially determining one of the kinds of dot data element that most frequently occurs in each of one of the rows and the columns and then sequencing the most frequently occurring kinds of dot data elements determined in a direction of the other of the rows and the columns, a data-block generating portion generating a data block by sequencing in the direction of the other of the rows and the columns codes each indicative of a difference between one of the dot data elements of a kind in the image data as stored in the storing portion and one of the dot data elements of a kind in the template data.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a feeding device for feeding a recording medium, recording heads arranged along a feeding direction and extending in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction, and a control unit for controlling the recording heads, and including storage for storing printing cycle data for printing cycles. For each printing cycle the printing cycle data includes head drive data and head identifying data identifying each head in a corresponding positional relationship with the recording medium in the feeding direction. As the recording medium advances in the feeding direction, the number of heads identified by the head identifying data in a printing cycle changes over time. Also, the apparatus includes a drive unit for reading the printing cycle data associated with a corresponding printing cycle and drives each head identified by the head identifying data based on the head drive data corresponding to the printing cycle data.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a conveyor mechanism, a placer, a recording head, and a controller that controls the conveyor mechanism, the placer, and the recording head. The controller determines a desired speed, which is a desired value of a driving speed of a conveyor belt of the conveyor mechanism during a recording, to be either one of a predetermined first speed and a second speed lower than the first speed. The controller determines the desired speed for a first recording medium to be recorded based on a record command, to be the second speed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including: a head having openings; a sheet-moving mechanism; a drive-data storage portion storing drive data; a converting section which converts the drive data such that an image position adjustment is changed; a first extracting section which extracts at least one opening whose number of ejections during the recording on at least one sheet of a first number based on unconverted drive data is smaller than a second number; a second extracting section which extracts at least one opening whose number of ejections during the recording on at least one sheet of a third number based on converted drive data is smaller than a fourth number; and a controller which controls the ejection such that a preliminary ejection from at least one opening extracted by the first and second extracting sections is performed upon recordings based on the unconverted drive data and the converted drive data.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus has a conveyor for conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction, at least one recording head having a flow path unit, a driver IC configured to output a drive signal, and an actuator configured to actuate ink in the flow path based on the drive signal, and a controller for controlling each of the conveyor and the at least one recording head. At least one recording head of the at least one recording heads has a temperature sensor for detecting a current temperature of the driver IC of the recording head. The controller has a detecting unit for comparing the current temperature with a particular predetermined temperature, a driving control unit for driving the driver IC based at least on the current temperature, and a cycle determining unit for determining an ejection cycle of at least one recording head.

Abstract: A method of forming a test pattern in a printer, wherein the printer may include at least one liquid discharge head including a nozzle plate, and the nozzle plate has a plurality of nozzles formed therethrough, wherein the plurality of nozzles are configured to discharge a liquid and are arranged in a plurality of rows which are parallel to each other and extend in a particular direction, the method may comprise the steps of selecting a first nozzle of the plurality of nozzles from a first row of the plurality of rows, selecting a second nozzle of the plurality of nozzles from a second row of the plurality of rows, and discharging the liquid from the first nozzle and from the second nozzle onto a medium, wherein a third row of the plurality of rows is positioned between the first row and the second row.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data transmission apparatus for transmitting image data to an inkjet recording apparatus including a feeding device feeding a recording medium in a feeding direction, and a line-type inkjet head extending in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction and across the recording medium fed in the feeding direction, and having an ink ejection surface in which ink ejection openings are formed. The image data is related to an image to be recorded on the recording medium by the recording apparatus, and constituted by dot data elements corresponding to image dots of the image, and the dot data elements are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns respectively parallel to a first direction perpendicular to the feeding direction and a second direction parallel to the feeding direction. Each dot data element is one of a predetermined plurality of kinds.

Abstract: An ink jet head is presented that decreases the density in wiring patterns to be connected to a large number of actuator terminals formed on a main body of the ink jet head while ensuring large spacing between the wirings. The ink jet head comprises a main body, a driver IC, and a sheet. The main body comprises a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of actuators, and a plurality of actuator terminals distributed on a surface of the main body. The driver IC can select any actuator terminal among the plurality of actuator terminals and transmit a driving voltage to the selected actuator terminal. The sheet mounts the driver IC at a first surface of the sheet and is fixed to the main body at a second surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a data transmitting apparatus for transmitting data including a plurality of data elements, each of which is a bit sequence of a plurality of bits, and is of one of a plurality of kinds. At least one bit in the bit sequence of a first one of the kinds of data elements that most frequently occurs has the same value as a bit at a corresponding place in the bit sequence of a second one of the kinds of data elements that second most frequently occurs. The data transmitting apparatus includes a raw-data storing portion, a data-block generating portion, a data compressing portion, and a transmitting portion. The raw-data storing portion stores raw data as the data to be transmitted.

Abstract: A data transmission apparatus transmits data relating to an image to be recorded on a recording medium to an ink-jet recording apparatus including a line-type ink-jet head which is formed with an ejection face having a plurality of ejection openings arranged in a matrix. A data generation unit included in the data transmission apparatus generates an image data block including a plurality of dot data lines each formed for each of the ejection openings. The dot data line is made up of a plurality of dot data elements corresponding to a plurality of dots arranged in a conveyance direction in the image to be recorded on the recording medium with an arrangement order of the plurality of dot data elements being according to an arrangement order of the corresponding dots in the conveyance direction.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a feeding device for feeding a recording medium, recording heads arranged along a feeding direction and extending in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction, and a control unit for controlling the recording heads, and including storage for storing printing cycle data for printing cycles. For each printing cycle the printing cycle data includes head drive data and head identifying data identifying each head in a corresponding positional relationship with the recording medium in the feeding direction. As the recording medium advances in the feeding direction, the number of heads identified by the head identifying data in a printing cycle changes over time. Also, the apparatus includes a drive unit for reading the printing cycle data associated with a corresponding printing cycle and drives each head identified by the head identifying data based on the head drive data corresponding to the printing cycle data.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus has a conveyor for conveying a recording medium in a conveying direction, at least one recording head having a flow path unit, a driver IC configured to output a drive signal, and an actuator configured to actuate ink in the flow path based on the drive signal, and a controller for controlling each of the conveyor and the at least one recording head. At least one recording head of the at least one recording heads has a temperature sensor for detecting a current temperature of the driver IC of the recording head. The controller has a detecting unit for comparing the current temperature with a particular predetermined temperature, a driving control unit for driving the driver IC based at least on the current temperature, and a cycle determining unit for determining an ejection cycle of at least one recording head.

Abstract: An inkjet head includes a flow-path unit and an actuator unit. The actuator unit includes a piezoelectric sheet, electrodes, and flexible printed circuit sheets. The electrodes are disposed on the piezoelectric sheet to correspond to pressure chambers, respectively. The flexible printed circuit sheets are disposed on the piezoelectric sheet while partially overlapping each other. Each of the electrodes includes a first and second end portions that are opposite to each other. At least a part of the electrodes of a first electrode group, which are adjacent to one end portion of a first flexible printed circuit sheet, include the contact portions at the first end portions thereof. At least a part of the electrodes of the second electrode group, which are adjacent to the one end portion of the first flexible printed circuit sheet, include the contact portions at the second end portions thereof.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a conveyor mechanism, a placer, a recording head, and a controller that controls the conveyor mechanism, the placer, and the recording head. The controller determines a desired speed, which is a desired value of a driving speed of a conveyor belt of the conveyor mechanism during a recording, to be either one of a predetermined first speed and a second speed lower than the first speed. The controller determines the desired speed for a first recording medium to be recorded based on a record command, to be the second speed.

Abstract: An ink jet head is presented that decreases the density in wiring patterns to be connected to a large number of actuator terminals formed on a main body of the ink jet head while ensuring large spacing between the wirings. The ink jet head comprises a main body, a driver IC, and a sheet. The main body comprises a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of actuators, and a plurality of actuator terminals distributed on a surface of the main body. The driver IC can select any actuator terminal among the plurality of actuator terminals and transmit a driving voltage to the selected actuator terminal. The sheet mounts the driver IC at a first surface of the sheet and is fixed to the main body at a second surface.

Abstract: An inkjet head includes a flow-path unit and an actuator unit. The actuator unit includes a piezoelectric sheet, electrodes, and flexible printed circuit sheets. The electrodes are disposed on the piezoelectric sheet to correspond to pressure chambers, respectively. The flexible printed circuit sheets are disposed on the piezoelectric sheet while partially overlapping each other. Each of the electrodes includes a first and second end portions that are opposite to each other. At least a part of the electrodes of a first electrode group, which are adjacent to one end portion of a first flexible printed circuit sheet, include the contact portions at the first end portions thereof. At least a part of the electrodes of the second electrode group, which are adjacent to the one end portion of the first flexible printed circuit sheet, include the contact portions at the second end portions thereof.