Abstract: From a cost and productivity perspective, the recording and color-measurement of a test pattern to determine whether it is necessary to execute calibration places a heavy burden on a user. The present invention determines the need for processing to generate a color correction parameter without recording a test pattern. More specifically, the present invention determines whether it is necessary to execute color correction parameter generation processing based on an increase in a dot count since color correction parameter generation processing was previously executed, or a change in a ejection rate.

Abstract: In conveying a print medium before and after a stop-unstable region in a printing apparatus, an image quality is improved while restricting a reduction of a throughput. Specifically a conveying amount is made smaller than a first conveying amount in a usual region. Thereby, the first conveying amount is maximized and the printing in the image region can be complemented by four times of scans after the conveyance of the conveying amount is completed.

Abstract: From a cost and productivity perspective, the recording and color-measurement of a test pattern to determine whether it is necessary to execute calibration places a heavy burden on a user. The present invention determines the need for processing to generate a color correction parameter without recording a test pattern. More specifically, the present invention determines whether it is necessary to execute color correction parameter generation processing based on an increase in a dot count since color correction parameter generation processing was previously executed, or a change in a ejection rate.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method are provided which can perform ink ejection performance recovery operations on a print head at optimal timings while at the same time reducing a volume of ink discarded by the recovery operations. Thirty days after a previous recovery operation, a suction-based recovery operation is performed on the print head prior to the printing operation that forms an image on a print medium. The recovery operation is performed under the condition that a temperature increase of the print head caused by a preliminary ejection of the print head is not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting liquid from a plurality of ejection ports by driving a plurality of ejection energy generation elements corresponding to the plurality of ejection portions. The apparatus includes a wiping mechanism capable of wiping an ejection port face in which a plurality of ejection ports is arranged in the liquid ejecting head. The ink ejection from the plurality of ejection ports is performed in a manner of a plurality of divisions. A time interval from a last wiping to a next wiping is adjusted according to an interval of the ejection energy generating elements corresponding to an adjacent ejection port.

Abstract: This invention has a plurality of print heads, each including a first and second nozzle arrays. The different print heads are arranged so as to include an overlap area. The difference in distribution rate between the plurality of nozzle arrays for the same color is set to be larger when the number of ejections in the overlap portion is equal to or larger than the threshold than when the number of ejections in the overlap portion is smaller than the threshold. The print data for the same color is distributed among the plurality of nozzle arrays for the same color so that the number of pixels with the same ink overlap sequence as that in the non-overlap areas is larger than the number of pixels with an overlap sequence different from that in the non-overlap areas when the number of ejections is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: In conveying a print medium before and after a stop-unstable region in a printing apparatus, an image quality is improved while restricting a reduction of a throughput. Specifically a conveying amount is made smaller than a first conveying amount in a usual region. Thereby, the first conveying amount is maximized and the printing in the image region can be complemented by four times of scans after the conveyance of the conveying amount is completed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head capable of ejecting liquid from a plurality of ejection ports by driving a plurality of ejection energy generation elements corresponding to the plurality of ejection portions. The apparatus includes a wiping mechanism capable of wiping an ejection port face in which a plurality of ejection ports is arranged in the liquid ejecting head. The ink ejection from the plurality of ejection ports is performed in a manner of a plurality of divisions. A time interval from a last wiping to a next wiping is adjusted according to an interval of the ejection energy generating elements corresponding to an adjacent ejection port.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and an ink jet printing method are provided which can perform ink ejection performance recovery operations on a print head at optimal timings while at the same time reducing a volume of ink discarded by the recovery operations. Thirty days after a previous recovery operation, a suction-based recovery operation is performed on the print head prior to the printing operation that forms an image on a print medium. The recovery operation is performed under the condition that a temperature increase of the print head caused by a preliminary ejection of the print head is not more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus that suppresses density unevenness caused by a difference in print time resulting from printing based on a bidirectional multi-pass printing system. With a relatively small print medium width, the time difference unevenness does not occur even in 2 pass printing. Accordingly, the 2 pass printing is selected. With a relatively large print medium width, selection of the 2 pass printing may make the density unevenness significant. Accordingly, the density unevenness is suppressed by selecting 8 pass printing. That is, in the 8 pass printing, the same area is scanned eight times, which is four times as frequent as the twice in the 2 pass printing. This reduces the size of each area having different densities, while increasing a cycle frequency at which a high and low densities are alternately repeated. As a result, the time difference unevenness is not perceived easily.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus has a structure in which, when a recording-interruption operation of a recording head such as discharge-recovery processing is performed during an image-forming operation, a recording downtime is measured, and the recording head is heated in accordance with the length of a recording downtime so as to prevent occurrence of differences in optical densities and colors of an image before and after the recording-interruption operation.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus has a structure in which, when a recording-interruption operation of a recording head such as discharge-recovery processing is performed during an image-forming operation, a recording downtime is measured, and the recording head is heated in accordance with the length of a recording downtime so as to prevent occurrence of differences in optical densities and colors of an image before and after the recording-interruption operation.

Abstract: When there are two kinds of caps that protect nozzle faces of print heads—a protective cap with no suction mechanism and a suction cap with a suction mechanism—and if a time during which the print heads are left idle is within a predetermined time, each print head protected by the protective cap performs 5,000 idle ejections during the idle ejection operation executed prior to initiating a printing operation. Each print head protected by the suction cap performs 100 idle ejections during the idle ejection operation. By setting the number of idle ejections for print heads protected by the protective caps to be greater, it is possible to keep all the print heads in good condition at all times whether they are protected by the suction caps or protective caps.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus has a structure in which, when a recording-interruption operation of a recording head such as discharge-recovery processing is performed during an image-forming operation, a recording downtime is measured, and the recording head is heated in accordance with the length of a recording downtime so as to prevent occurrence of differences in optical densities and colors of an image before and after the recording-interruption operation.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet printing apparatus that suppresses density unevenness caused by a difference in print time resulting from printing based on a bidirectional multi-pass printing system. With a relatively small print medium width, the time difference unevenness does not occur even in 2 pass printing. Accordingly, the 2 pass printing is selected. With a relatively large print medium width, selection of the 2 pass printing may make the density unevenness significant. Accordingly, the density unevenness is suppressed by selecting 8 pass printing. That is, in the 8 pass printing, the same area is scanned eight times, which is four times as frequent as the twice in the 2 pass printing. This reduces the size of each area having different densities, while increasing a cycle frequency at which a high and low densities are alternately repeated. As a result, the time difference unevenness is not perceived easily.

Abstract: When there are two kinds of caps that protect nozzle faces of print heads—a protective cap with no suction mechanism and a suction cap with a suction mechanism—and if a time during which the print heads are left idle is within a predetermined time (more than T4 and less than T3), the print head protected by the protective cap performs 5,000 idle ejections during the idle ejection operation executed prior to initiating a printing operation The print head protected by the suction cap performs 100 idle ejections during the idle ejection operation. By setting larger the number of idle ejections for print heads protected by the protective caps, it is possible to keep any print heads in good condition at all times whether they are protected by the suction caps or protective caps.

Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus has a structure in which, when a recording-interruption operation of a recording head such as discharge-recovery processing is performed during an image-forming operation, a recording downtime is measured, and the recording head is heated in accordance with the length of a recording downtime so as to prevent occurrence of differences in optical densities and colors of an image before and after the recording-interruption operation.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in which a printhead and a print medium intermittently move relatively to each other, and the printhead performs printing on the print medium during the relative movement. The temperature of the printhead is detected, the detected temperature is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and start of new relative movement accompanied by printing is controlled in correspondence with the result of comparison. The threshold value is set in correspondence with information regarding the number of pixels for which the printhead can perform printing during one relative movement. By this arrangement, reduction of output speed can be suppressed as much as possible, and inconveniences due to temperature rise of the printhead can be prevented.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in which a printhead and a print medium intermittently move relatively to each other, and the printhead performs printing on the print medium during the relative movement. The temperature of the printhead is detected, the detected temperature is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and start of new relative movement accompanied by printing is controlled in correspondence with the result of comparison. The threshold value is set in correspondence with information regarding the number of pixels for which the printhead can perform printing during one relative movement. By this arrangement, reduction of output speed can be suppressed as much as possible, and inconveniences due to temperature rise of the printhead can be prevented.