Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a recording head adapted for ejecting at least two colors of ink, a discriminater for discriminating between character data and bit map data, and a controller for selecting a character data recording mode or a bit map data recording mode in accordance with a discrimination result by the discriminater. The controller controls an amount of ink ejection in the bit map data recording mode to be less than that in the character data recording mode.

Abstract: In the present invention, upon printing of an image on a printing medium by ejecting an ink for a treatment liquid ejected on the printing medium, by scanning the printing medium, a number of scan for the same region of the printing medium is judged, and ejection from a printing head is performed by variably setting the ejection amount of the treatment liquid in one scan by varying ratio of dots to be ejected versus all dots on the printing medium. Thus, deposition of mist or rebounded droplets on an ejection surface of an ink ejecting portion of the printing head can be avoided. By the present invention, pollution of the ejection surface of the printing head is avoided and thus reliability of ejection of the printing head is maintained.

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: An ink-jet recording apparatus ejects droplets of a recording-improvement liquid on a boundary line between two different color portions of an image by using an ink-jet recording head. The ink-jet recording head comprises a group of nozzles for ejecting the recording-improvement liquid which is responsible for precipitating or condensing a coloring substance in the ink. Accordingly, a high-quality image that comprises black-color portion with a high image density without causing any feathering and multiple-color portions without a spread of ink can be obtained.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method prints an image on a printing medium by ejecting ink and printabilty improvement liquid containing a substance for improving printablity of the ink to the printing medium. At this time, ejection of the ink and ejection of the printability improvement liquid onto the printing medium are achieved such that the position where the printability improvement liquid is applied and the position where the ink is applied are different from each other, but partially overlap when the ejected printability improvement liquid comes into contact with the ejected ink on the printing medium.

Abstract: A head for discharging yellow ink, magenta ink, cyan ink and first black ink having a relatively fast penetration velocity to a recording medium and a head for discharging second black ink having a relatively low penetration velocity are used to print an image. When a black image is adjacent to a color image, the black image is formed by using the first black ink, and when the black image is not adjacent to the color image, the black image is formed by using the second black ink. A black ink and a plurality of color inks having a different penetration velocity to a recording medium than that of the black ink are also used to print an image.

Abstract: This invention is to solve the problem that when images are recorded mixedly in different resolutions, disturbance is brought to images, gaps are created between images, or excessively densified areas appear due to difference in resolutions, that is, changes of dot sizes and recording densities in recording in the area where images are recorded mixedly in high and low resolutions or such images are adjacently present.In a recording area in which images to be recorded in low and high resolutions are mixed, the recording position of images to be recorded in low resolution is offset relatively with respect to the images to be recorded in high resolution for the intended recording, thus achieving the objectives of this invention.Also, in the boundary portion where images to be recorded in low and high resolutions are adjacent to each other, supplementary dots are recorded or recorded dots are intermitted in accordance with the present invention. In this way, its objectives are achieved.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method for performing printing onto a printing medium with the use of both of a colored ink ejected from an ink jet head and a printing property improving liquid to be applied to the printing medium for improving a printing property for an ink jet printing apparatus, having the steps of: at least one time or more printing a first colored ink on the printing medium, at least one time or more applying the printing property improving liquid onto a region printed with the colored ink, and at least one time or more printing a second colored ink on a region where the printing property improving liquid is applied.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus performing recording by discharging ink onto a recording medium is provided with a conveying belt for conveying the recording medium by the attraction of static electricity, an electrode provided to be in contact with the recording medium conveyed by the conveying belt, and a power source capable of charging the electrode with the charge which has the polarity opposite to the charge carried by the conveying belt. The main droplet and satellite split from the ink droplet are impacted on the recording medium to prevent the adhesion of the satellite to the discharging port of the discharging surface of the recording head, thus maintaining desirable recording for a long time.

Abstract: In an ink jet head having an ink discharge head for discharging an ink, and a liquid discharge head for discharging a print improving liquid given to a printing medium for improving printability in ink jet printing, the liquid discharge head 2002 is disposed to be sandwiched between colored discharge heads 2001 and 2003 for discharging at least one set of colored inks with respect to a scanning direction. This provides an ink jet head for optimally utilizing a pre-feed technique and/or a follow feed technique in ink jet printing.

Abstract: When the color printing is performed using a recording head arranged such that number of nozzles for discharging black ink is greater than the number of nozzles for discharging inks of other colors, the use frequency of some nozzles among all the nozzles for discharging the black ink is higher, so that image unevenness may arise when transferred to the black printing. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method and an ink jet recording apparatus in which the image unevenness often seen in the black printing involving the use of more nozzles than other colors, and the blur of recorded image seen in the image having black images adjacent color images located are reduced.

Abstract: Whether or not a color image is present adjacent to a black image is discriminated. Whether the black image is formed using a black ink or a plurality of color inks C, M, and Y is determined in accordance with the discrimination result. When the black image is formed using the plurality of color inks, it is recorded using a repetitive pattern of two of C, M, and Y so as to prevent blurring with the color image, and to improve fixing characteristics by decreasing the total ejection amount.

Abstract: A check pattern for a registration adjustment under a low resolution condition of 600 dpi.times.600 dpi at a substantially central portion of a printing medium is printed. After performing the registration adjustment based on the printed pattern, the check pattern is printed under a high resolution condition of 1200 dpi.times.600 dpi at a position not causing interference with the former check pattern. On a basis of this, the registration adjustment is again performed. By this, the registration adjustment in high precision printing can be performed easily. Also, two check patterns can be printed on a single printing medium to permit lowering of cost concerning the printing medium to be used in check pattern printing.

Abstract: A driving method for an ink jet recording head having an electrical converting element provided to vary the volume of an ink path through which ink flows to perform gradient recording in accordance with recording information, the electrical converting element being driven by applying electrical signals including a first driving pulse for enlarging the volume of the ink path, the first driving pulse having a duration t1, and a second driving pulse having a duration t2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a color ink jet recording method including the step of recording a desired color image on a recording medium on the basis of recording data using a black ink and a plurality of color inks each being different from the black ink in permeating characteristics against the recording medium. In this method, the surface tension is 40 dyn/cm or less for each of the inks; and the blotting factor against plain paper is 2.5 or less for the black ink, and it is in the range of from 2.5 to 3.5 for each of the color inks. Alternatively, the surface tension is 40 dyn/cm or less for each of the inks; and the permeating rate against plain paper is one second or more for the black ink, and it is less than one second for each of the color inks.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus includes: first ink tanks that are replaceable and contain first inks containing colorants; a second ink tank that is replaceable and contains a second ink containing no colorant; third ink generating means to generate third inks by mixing the first inks and the second ink; and third ink tanks that contain the generated third inks with different mixing ratios and can supply the third inks to recording heads for selective ejection.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a recording head adapted for ejecting at least two colors of ink, a discriminater for discriminating between character data and bit map data, and a controller for selecting a character data recording mode or a bit map data recording mode in accordance with a discrimination result by the discriminater. The controller controls an amount of ink ejection in the bit map data recording mode to be less than that in the character data recording mode.

Abstract: There are provided a color image forming method with liquids, capable of ensuring sharpness and high density in basically all the color images, and a recording apparatus therefor. This invention employs a black ink of relatively superior diffusibility and color inks of relatively superior penetrability, different in color from the black ink, and is characterized by forming the boundary area of a black image area with the color inks instead of the black ink.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having discharging ports which discharge a recording liquid, a capping device capable of being mounted on the recording head, a pressure device which enables the recording liquid to flow under pressure in the ink supply passages to the recording head, and pressurizes the interior of the recording head when the capping device is mounted. A first ink supply tube to conductively connect the pressure device and the recording head, a second ink supply tube conductively connects the recording head and a recording liquid reservoir container; a conductive tube conductively connects the first ink supply tube and the second ink supply tube, and a controller controls the flow in the conductive tube, hence making it possible to remove air bubbles in the ink supply systems and ink passages easily and effectively by providing a conductive tube for a conventional ink supply systems.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus provided with a plurality of discharging ports for discharging ink, and discharging elements for discharging ink upon application of electrical pulses, the volume of ink droplets discharged from each of the discharging ports is caused to vary due to the properties of each discharging port. This variation results in a conspicuous unevenness in recording. The present invention provides a method for making such recording unevenness due to the properties of each discharging port inconspicuous by varying the volume of ink droplets discharged from each of the plural discharging ports at random. Also, the present invention provides a technique in which the volume of discharging ink droplets is varied at random by use of a specific ink in order to make the recording unevenness inconspicuous.