Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method record using different kinds of ink each having the same series color and a different density. The jet recording apparatus includes a converting unit for converting an input image density signal into an output image density signal, a binary unit for converting the output image density signal into binary data, an inverting unit for inverting the binary data, and a distributing unit for the binary data inverted and binary data to be inverted to drive data for an ink discharge unit and drive data for another ink discharge unit. Density unevenness and texture which arise from an image process, particularly a binary process, can be prevented. Different kinds of ink, each of which has the same series color and a different density, are respectively scanned so as not to overlap on the same pixel.

Abstract: A container for containing printing liquid for supplying to an ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus. The container includes a first chamber containing negative pressure producing material and having an air vent communicating with ambient air and a supply port for supplying printing liquid to the ink jet head. The container also includes a second chamber communicating with the first chamber via a communication port and providing a printing liquid reservoir for the first chamber. The capillary force provided by the negative pressure producing material adjacent a wall extending from the communication port and decreasing in a direction perpendicular to and towards the wall at least adjacent a part of the communication port which is uppermost in use of the container.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head for performing print recording by ejecting ink from an ejection orifice by thermal energy; temperature sensors provided in the recording head; a temperature calculation device for calculating a temperature change of the recording head in a unit time as a discrete value on the basis of the supply of energy input to the recording head, and for calculating the temperature change of the recording head by accumulating the discrete value in the unit time; a temperature presuming device for presuming a head temperature by both a calculated value of the temperature change and an adopted base value of the head temperature; a detection device for detecting a difference between the head presumed temperature and a detected temperature sensed by the temperature sensors; an update device for updating the adopted base value of the head temperature by the difference; and a control device for controlling ejection of the ink to be stabilized in accordance with the head

Abstract: The mounting positions of a plurality of recording heads (1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K) are set to be variable with respect to a paper feed direction, so that a post-ejection recording head (1Y) is mounted at the downstream side in the paper feed direction as compared to a pre-ejection recording head, thereby preventing generation of banding in color ink jet recording, and improving image quality.

Abstract: In forming an image with plural recording heads corresponding to plural inks of different densities, the image data are so distributed that the image is formed with the ink of low density until the image density reaches a predetermined density level, but is formed with the inks of low and high densities when the image density exceeds the predetermined density level, and the distributed data are corrected according to the detection of temperature relating to the recording heads, whereby a desired recorded image can be obtained even in the presence of a variation in the head temperature. Also the image data are distributed in such a manner that, when the remaining amount of one of the plural inks becomes low, the recording is conducted with the remaining ink, whereby a desired image can be obtained even when the remaining amount of one of the plural inks with different densities becomes low.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus can obtain characteristics of temperature sensors precisely in a short time by detecting that a new recording head is installed and presuming the characteristics of the temperature sensors of the recording head.

Abstract: A container for containing printing liquid for supplying to an ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus. The container includes first and second chambers, with the first chamber containing negative pressure producing material and having an air vent communicating with ambient air and a supply port for supplying printing liquid to the ink jet head. The second chamber communicates with the first chamber via a communication port and provides a printing liquid reservoir for the first chamber. In an area adjacent a wall extending from the communication port, a capillary force provided by the negative pressure producing material decreases in a direction perpendicular to and towards that wall at least adjacent a part of the communication port which is uppermost when the container is in use.

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: A recording scan is performed through a relative reciprocation of color recording heads on a recording material. The recording heads can record with higher recording density than that of input image date. A plurality of pixels (2.times.2)are formed for each pixel of input image data. A mixed color image is recorded by multiple scans of the recording heads, in such a manner that pixels thereof (2.times.2) are not subjected to superposition of ink of two colors or more during a scan of the recording heads. Thus, it is possible to prevent an occurrence of variations in mixed color, and to record a high quality color image without increasing a recording time. Further, an amount of ink of one color may be reduced when recording a second one of the scans.

Abstract: An information transmitting mechanism is described for transmitting information of an ink tank of an ink jet recording apparatus to a controller thereof. The recording apparatus performs recording by scanning a carriage on which a recording head and the ink tank are mounted; the ink tank is removably mounted to said recording head. The information transmitting mechanism includes the ink tank and the recording head; in particular, the ink tank has an information mark. The recording head is connected to the ink tank and has a signal terminal making a signal connection with the ink tank and with the controller of the apparatus. The content of the information mark is transmitted to the controller through the signal terminal. The information relating to the ink tank is transmitted to the controller through the head terminal and through the carriage terminal. The information relating to the recording head is transmitted to the controller through the carriage terminal.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a recording unit integrally having an image forming recording head and a memory for storing a correction datum for correcting non-uniform image formation property; a reader for reading the correction datum from the memory; and a device for changing image forming conditions in accordance with the correction datum read by the reader. The apparatus also can alter the image forming conditions changed by the changing device when the non-uniformity of the recording unit changes.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus provided according to the present invention does not generate any printing density streaks in low density areas of an image and is therefore capable of outputting stabilized images without any density unevennesses and density streaks in any tonality. The apparatus is structured so as to correct density signals in accordance with a correction table 1 for indicating the recording characteristics of each of the recording elements of the head and the recording characteristics indicated by this correction table 1, and to drive the recording head in accordance with a correction table 2, which does not allow the fore-going corrections to be made when the density signals are lower than a given density, and the density signals corrected by this correction table 2.

Abstract: A plurality of thin image data are generated based on desired image data. A single region on a recording medium is scanned a plurality of number of times on the basis of the plurality of thin image data, thereby recording the thin images a plurality of number of times. The scan interval in this case is set to be an interval equal to or longer than a required minimum interval, which does not cause deterioration of image quality due to blurring. Furthermore, the interval is properly changed according to the print duty, environmental condition, or the like.

Abstract: A color ink jet printing apparatus including a single suction mechanism having a capping member designed to cap any one of the printheads of the apparatus and carrying out a suction recovery of that capped printhead. A plurality of additional caps which are not associated with the suction mechanism are provided for capping the printhead. Various printing moving schemes are devised to provide quick and efficient positioning of selected printheads opposing the suction mechanism to speedily service that printhead.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus is disclosed in which ink is ejected onto a recording material, the apparatus including a recording head having an energy generating element for producing energy contributable to eject the ink onto the recording material; a recording head driving device for applying drive signals having a waveform to the energy generating element; a temperature detecting device for detecting a temperature relating to the recording head and for producing an output; a changing device for changing the waveform of the driving signals in accordance with the output of the detecting device; and a drive control device for fixing the waveform to a predetermined waveform when the recording material used is an OHP sheet.

Abstract: In the recording method and apparatus, ink is ejected by thermal energy produced by a heat generating element of a recording head in response to application of driving signals thereto, the driving signals being of plural waveforms including a fixed waveform. The method includes the steps of detecting a temperature of the recording head and applying the driving signals to the heat generating element of the recording head. The waveforms of the driving signals are changed in accordance with the temperature of the recording head when the temperature of the recording head is below a predetermined level, and the waveforms of the driving signals comprise the fixed waveform when the temperature of the recording head exceeds the predetermined level.

Abstract: When image formation on an image area corresponding to a recording section of a recording head is completed by executing a plurality of number of times of record scans of the recording head using a plurality of complementary thin-out patterns, scan intervals are gradually increased before execution of pre-ejection (Nos. 29 to 33), and scan intervals are gradually decreased after execution of pre-ejection (Nos. 36 to 40), so that a variation in scan intervals of the plurality of times of record scans for a single image area is limited to fall within a predetermined time range.

Abstract: Image data is thinned out by using thinning patterns having arrays not synchronized with an image data array according to an area gradation method at the same duty, and the resulting thinned image data is divisionally recorded on a predetermined area of a recording medium by using different record areas of a recording head while a scan operation is performed a plurality of number of times. The thinning patterns are formed such that substantially equal quantities of an ink are implanted in a plurality of number of times of the divisional recording.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method record using different kinds of ink each having the same series color and a different density. The jet recording apparatus includes a converting unit for converting an input image density signal into an output image density signal, a binary unit for converting the output image density signal into binary data, an inverting unit for inverting the binary data, and a distributing unit for distributing the binary data inverted and binary data to be inverted to drive data for an ink discharge unit and drive data for another ink discharge unit. Density unevenness and texture which arise from an image process, particularly a binary process, can be prevented. Different kinds of ink, each of which has the same series color and a different density, are respectively scanned so as not to overlap on the same pixel.