Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of recording images and positional information representing positions on a recording medium on the recording medium. Positional information is read by detecting an image recorded with a predetermined recording material or by using a device capable of reading the information. The positional information is recorded with a recording material capable of being detected by a device and an image other than the positional information is recorded with another recording material.

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: When positional information expressed by a black dot pattern and an image other than the positional information recorded as color dots are recorded, black data and color (cyan, magenta, and yellow) data are compared. If the black dots and color dots are provided in the same positions, data conversion is performed so that color dots corresponding to those positions are not formed. Thus, bleeding resulting from overlaps of positional information image with the other image is reduced to prevent the degradation of recording quality, and waste of ink is prevented.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a carriage movable in a given direction with a recording head which is detachably mountable on it and provided with discharge ports for discharging liquid. The apparatus is arranged to include a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the carriage, the recording head, and at least one of the ink containers. This sensor is provided for the main body of the apparatus and positioned within the movable range of the carriage. With this arrangement, it is possible to simplify the structure required for detecting whether or not these vital elements for recording are installed without any auxiliary power-supply or memory means.

Abstract: The ink jet printing apparatus of this invention is intended to reduce degradations in image quality caused by color mixing due to bleeding of inks of different colors and thereby enable printing an image with high quality at high speed. To this end, in the ink jet printing apparatus of this invention, a plurality of different nozzle groups are main-scanned M times (M≧2) over a print area to print all print data to be printed on the print area to complete an image. The print head, successively perform the main scans over the print area in such a way that the print head, located at the front position in the printing order, performs an Mth main scan with a lower print density than that of an Nth main scan (1≦N<M).

Abstract: A high-quality image is printed with reduced bleeding in colors that may appear at a boundary between a black image and a color image. A head for ejecting black ink and a head for ejecting color ink perform three times of scanning while feeding is carried out therebetween for moving the printing medium by four pitches of ejection openings arranged on the heads, different ejection openings are caused to correspond to a scanning area, which corresponds to the four pitches, and multi-pass printing is performed to complete printing on the area. The black head completes printing of the black image, and then, the color head completes printing of the color image adjacent to the black image. The arrangement of ejection openings is determined so that between last scanning for completing printing of the black image and the first scanning for printing of the color image, scanning with no performing printing exists.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is provided with two or more kinds of sub-scanning amounts per main scan, and records a high quality image by reducing the bleeding between colors created characteristically by a multi-pass recording method. The number of times of main scanning to complete an image by a first discharge port array for black ink use and a second discharge port array for color ink use, respectively, are set to be m (m is a positive integer) and n (n is a positive integer) times. With respect to discharge ports to be used for recording in the first and second discharge port arrays, a distance between discharge ports which are positioned at upstream ends of the respective first and second discharge port arrays in the sub-scan direction is made equal to a length of a continuously conveying amount of (m+a) (a is a positive integer) times by combination of the at least two kinds of conveying amounts.

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: To drive an inkjet printhead having an array of printing elements, where the first and second printing elements which discharge relatively different amounts of ink are arranged on the same array in a predetermined direction, print data for the first or second printing element is serially inputted, the inputted print data is sequentially stored, the stored print data is latched, a selection signal indicative of which of the first or second printing element is to be driven is inputted, a driving signal indicative of a driving period is inputted, and respective printing elements are driven in accordance with the latched print data, the selection signal, and the driving signal. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the cost of the printhead having plural types of printing elements, which discharge relatively different amounts of ink, and possible to easily control driving of the printhead.

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 distinction apparatus of a printing apparatus distinguishes data compression rate according to each of the data transferred from a host computer, and a mode selection apparatus selects a printing mode according to slow printing velocity when data compression rate is low and selects a printing mode according to fast printing velocity when data compression rate is high, and then the printing head can be controlled under printing velocity according to the selected printing mode.

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 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, 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: This invention provides a printing head which can prevent an increase in the number of block enable signal lines, and can prevent changes in printing ink density caused by interference due to the relative pressures of nozzles generated in ink discharge, and an image printing apparatus using the printing head. For this purpose, an increase in the number of input signal lines along with an increase in the number of blocks is prevented using a block clock signal or the like instead of a block enable signal as an input signal to the printing head. Three ring counters generate signals having different nozzle driving orders. These signals are selectively used by a ring counter selection signal. Ink is not always discharged from the nozzles in the same output order. This can prevent changes in ink density caused by pressure interference.

Abstract: In an ink-jet apparatus employing an ink-jet head having a plurality of heaters corresponding to one ink ejection opening, appropriate preliminary ejection is performed per each ejection amount mode set by heater to be used among a plurality of heaters. Depending upon set printing mode (step S9), printing is performed in one of large, medium and small ejection amount modes (steps S10, S12, S14). For example, after printing is performed for a predetermined amount by the small ejection amount mode (step S10), the preliminary ejection during printing, is performed in the medium ejection amount mode which is greater in ejection amount than the small ejection amount mode. By this, the interval of preliminary ejection during printing can be set longer to prevent lowering of throughput due to preliminary printing operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus and a method of detecting a remaining amount of ink capable of detecting an amount of ink remaining in an ink tank without the need of a special mechanism and part in an inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image by mounting the ink tank and a recording head on a carriage and scanning the carriage. The position where the carriage stops is detected by an encoder by moving the carriage by driving a motor and stopping the drive of the motor after the carriage constantly moves at a predetermined speed. The amount of ink remaining in the ink tank mounted on the carriage is determined based on the moving distance of the carriage from the time the drive of the motor is stopped to the time the carriage moved by inertia stops.