Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a calibration method are provided which, by using a small-capacity memory, can perform a high-speed calibration processing on data used to eject ink of the same color from a plurality of nozzle arrays. By ejecting ink of the same color from the plurality of nozzle arrays, patch is printed and, based on the printed result of the patch, a content of a print data correction processing is changed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a calibration method are provided which, by using a small-capacity memory, can perform a high-speed calibration processing on data used to eject ink of the same color from a plurality of nozzle arrays. By ejecting ink of the same color from the plurality of nozzle arrays, patch is printed and, based on the printed result of the patch, a content of a print data correction processing is changed.

Abstract: Color processing is performed for each image data, so as to switch generating methods for black data to perform appropriate sharpness processing regarding image data wherein sharpness of printing results is important and image data wherein gradation of the image is important. A recording device is provided, wherein by performing such processing, black images such as characters or lines maintain sharpness or clarity, and picture images can be formed as high quality images.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing method comprising a selecting method of selecting defective print elements to be corrected on the basis of, for example, the positional relationship among the defective print elements in a print head so that if there are a plurality of defective print elements such as non-ejection nozzles, not all pixels otherwise printed by the defective print elements are to be corrected but efficient corrections can be achieved on the basis of correlations with the lifetimes of other normal print elements, as well as a correcting method of making up for print data corresponding to the defective print elements selected, and a printing apparatus using the printing method.

Abstract: It is possible to implement a calibration process that corrects density unevenness even in the case where the utilization ratios of the plurality of nozzle arrays used in printing differ. Concretely, making use of a print head provided with a plurality of nozzle arrays ejecting ink of the same color, it is a printing apparatus that performs printing, based on print data, by ejecting ink from the nozzles provided in the nozzle arrays, and has a print density characteristic acquisition unit, which acquires the print density characteristics of each of the nozzle arrays, and a nozzle array contribution ratio establishing unit, which establishes the printing ratios of the nozzle arrays that print a predetermined printing area, and does color shift correction processing of the print data based on each of the print density characteristics of the nozzle arrays and the nozzle array contribution ratios.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which performs printing on a printing medium using an inkjet printhead for discharging ink, preliminary discharge, where ink discharge irrespective of printing is performed at the time of print execution, is performed under a predetermined condition. The printing apparatus includes a control section and a setting section. The control section executes a preliminary discharge by the printhead, which has a plurality of discharge orifices, before a predetermined time has elapsed since a latest preliminary discharge, in printing of an image, and the setting section sets the predetermined time. The setting section obtains an elapsed time after executing the preliminary discharge until a discharge failure occurs in any one of the plurality of discharge orifices, and sets the elapsed time as the predetermined time.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which performs printing on a printing medium using an inkjet printhead for discharging ink, preliminary discharge, where ink discharge irrespective of printing is performed at the time of print execution, is performed under a predetermined condition to obtain information regarding a discharge state of the printhead. Based on the obtained information, an execution condition of the preliminary discharge is controlled. By virtue of this control, an execution condition (parameter) of the preliminary discharge can appropriately be controlled in accordance with the discharge state of the printhead, in which the ink drying state and the increased viscosity state of ink vary depending on individual differences, usage environment, usage histories (durability) and so on.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus processes, for each pixel, multivalued image data for a unit area of a recording medium, so as to form an image on the unit area with a plurality of relative movements between a recording head and the recording medium. The apparatus has a selector that selects a first processing mode for dividing the multivalued image data into a plurality of pieces of multivalued image data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements, and then quantizing each of the plurality of pieces of multivalued image data, or a second processing mode for quantizing the multivalued image data into quantized image data, and then dividing the quantized image data into a plurality of pieces of quantized image data corresponding to the plurality of relative movements. The selector selects the processing mode based on a content (attribute, grayscale, color, etc.) of the multivalued image data.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which performs printing on a printing medium using an inkjet printhead for discharging ink, preliminary discharge, where ink discharge irrespective of printing is performed at the time of print execution, is performed under a predetermined condition to obtain information regarding a discharge state of the printhead. Based on the obtained information, an execution condition of the preliminary discharge is controlled. By virtue of this control, an execution condition (parameter) of the preliminary discharge can appropriately be controlled in accordance with the discharge state of the printhead, in which the ink drying state and the increased viscosity state of ink vary depending on individual differences, usage environment, usage histories (durability) and so on.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a calibration method are provided which, by using a small-capacity memory, can perform a high-speed calibration processing on data used to eject ink of the same color from a plurality of nozzle arrays. By ejecting ink of the same color from the plurality of nozzle arrays, patch is printed and, based on the printed result of the patch, a content of a print data correction processing is changed.

Abstract: A printing method and a printing apparatus of the present invention are capable of performing both a vertical registration adjustment in which a range of nozzles used for printing is limited and a vertical registration adjustment in which print data is shifted. More specifically, switching is performed between the vertical registration adjustment in which a range of nozzles used for printing is limited and the vertical registration adjustment in which print data is shifted, in accordance with conditions such as a printing mode, types of printing medium, and the like. Thereby, an improvement of a throughput by a printing apparatus and an improvement of an image quality printed by the printing apparatus can be together achieved.

Abstract: The optimal number of print passes and a head-to-platen distance are set according to a content of an image to be printed and the user's request (emphasis is put on quality or speed, etc.) to thereby appropriately meet the needs for higher image quality and higher productivity and to perform printing with high reliability. To this end, it is made possible to select whether to execute processing for issuing an instruction to set the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance according to discrimination of the content of the image. When the execution of the processing is selected, the number of print passes and the head-to-platen distance are appropriately set according to the content of the image (duty, etc.). Meanwhile, when it is not selected, the image is printed by one-pass print with the head-to-platen distance set larger, regardless of the content of the image.

Abstract: A glass composition improves the bio-solubility (solubility to physiological salt water), and is suitable for manufacturing inorganic fiber and a molded product of such inorganic fiber. The glass composition to be used for manufacturing inorganic fiber is characterized by containing SiO2 by 52 to 72 wt %, Al2O3 by less than 3 wt %, MgO by 0 to 7 wt %, CaO by 7.5 to 9.5 wt %, B2O3 by 0 to 12 wt, BaO by 0 to 4 wt %, SrO by 0 to 3.5 wt %, Na2O by 10 to 20.5 wt %, K2O by 0.5 to 4.0 wt % and P2O5 by 0 to 5 wt %. The raw material of the glass composition contains cathode ray tube glass and/or liquid crystal glass by 0 to 50 wt %.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided which can utilize a power supply to its maximum capacity without overly degrading throughput. A print area that can be printed in one scan of a print head is divided into a plurality of blocks. The number of data indicating print in each block is detected. Then the detected value is compared with a plurality of thresholds. Based on a result of the comparison, a scan speed of the print head and the number of scans are determined. This arrangement allows for a selection of an optimum printing method from among a plurality of scan speeds and a plurality of divided printing modes even when an image that may cause a CURRENT in excess of the maximum power supply capacity to flow is printed. With this printing apparatus it is possible to execute printing fully utilizing the power supply capacity without overly degrading throughput.

Abstract: A glass composition to be used for manufacturing inorganic fiber has a composition that entirely or partly eliminates the use of expensive boron oxide that is employed to lower the glass softening point and the viscosity. The glass composition contains 45 to 75 wt % of SiO2, 1 to 6 wt % of Al2O3, 0 to 4 wt % of MgO, 0 to 15 wt % of CaO, 0 to 6 wt % of B2O3, 0.1 to 10 wt % of BaO, 0.1 to 25 wt % of SrO, 5 to 17 wt % of Na2O, 0.5 to 10 wt % of K2O and 0 to 3.5 wt % of Fe2O3.