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: A replaceable ink cartridge, usable with a bubble jet printer, includes a container having front, back, top bottom and side walls, the container being divided internally into a first chamber and a second chamber having a common partition extending downward perpendicularly toward the bottom wall to provide an opening between the chambers formed by the partition proximate to the bottom wall. The first chamber contains a reservoir of liquid ink and is generally sealed from ambient air except through the opening, and the second chamber has an air vent for admitting ambient air into the second chamber and an ink supply outlet in the front wall.

Abstract: In a first recording mode for recording by discharging the ink of relatively large amount at a low resolution, liquid droplet discharging and recording conditions for the low resolution are set, while in a second recording mode for recording by discharging the ink of relatively small amount at a high resolution, a high resolution transformation process and a smoothing and thinning process are performed, and the liquid droplet discharging and recording conditions for the low resolution are set, wherein the recording control is performed in accordance with the recording mode which has been set.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head for performing recording by discharging ink by forming a bubble by applying thermal energy to a heat acting portion of an ink holding portion of the recording head. Thermal energy is generated in the recording head and a cap sealingly caps a discharge opening forming surface of the recording head. Ink is sucked from the cap and positive recovery is effected so that 10.sup.4 or more times of preliminary discharges are performed toward the cap which is detached from the recording head, by supplying energy greater than energy at a recording condition by predetermined multiples of a minimum energy E.sub.o required for generating the bubble, and for causing the ink to be sucked in the cap that is open to atmosphere.

Abstract: A recording head having a plurality of ink discharge element lines arranged thereon is moved in a direction different from the direction of arrangement of the ink discharge elements to conduct a main scan, and at the end of the main scan, a recording medium is moved by a predetermined width in a direction different from the main scan direction to record an image. A record area of the recording head is divided into a plurality (n) of areas and each unit image area on the recording medium is main scanned n times by using the n divided areas of the recording head and thinned images with a print factor of 1/n are sequentially recorded to complete the record of the unit image area. The print factor for the pixels in the boundary area of adjacent unit image areas is lower than the print factor to the entire unit image area in at least one of the n main scans. Thus, the number of pixels recorded by the same main scan in the boundary area is increased.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage for carrying a recording head for effecting recording by ejection of ink on a recording material; a cap for capping an ejection outlet of the recording head formed in an ejection side surface; sucking pump for sucking the ink out through the ejection outlet while the cap is closely contacted to the ejection side surface; a clearance forming mechanism for forming a clearance at a part of close-contact portion between the ejection side surface and the cap by relative motion between the cap and the carriage.

Abstract: An ink jet cartridge, removably mountable on an ink jet recording apparatus, includes a recording head and an ink tank containing recording liquid. The head and cartridge are removably connected through an engaging member provided on the ink tank and an engaged member provided on the recording head. When the ink tank and the recording head are not combined, a protecting cover provided on the recording head can protect sensitive components of the recording head, while partially overlapping the side of the link tank and being integrated therewith when the recording head and ink tank are combined.

Abstract: In a color ink jet recording system for performing color image recording on a recording medium using a plurality of recording heads and different color inks, the thinning ratio for at least one (e.g., black K) of the recording heads is set to be different from the thinning ratio for the remaining recording heads (e.g., cyan C, and the like). The total implantation quantity of the black ink can be twice the normal quantity without increasing the number of times of scan operations, and without causing boundary blur, and the print density of black can be increased.

Abstract: A plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks of different colors are reciprocally moved relative to a recording medium, and printing operations are performed by executing main scans in forward and backward scans of the recording heads. In this case, an area printable in a single main scan is recorded by performing a plurality of main scans using a plurality of thinning patterns in which an m.times.n pixel group is defined as a unit pixel group, and the pixel groups are arranged at non-neighboring positions, and which have a complementary arrangement relationship therebetween. A high-quality color image free from time difference nonuniformity, and density nonuniformity caused by, e.g., variations of recording elements is obtained at high speed.

Abstract: A recording section of each of recording heads of different recording colors is divided into a plurality of sub-sections, and the recording heads are moved back and forth relative to a recording medium to conduct a main scan in each run, and thinned images are sequentially recorded on the same area of the recording medium by using different recording sections of the recording heads in a plurality of main scans. The numbers of dots recorded in the main scans are equal without regard to the image data to prevent ununiformity of density due to reach accuracy and amount of discharge and regular ununiformity of color due to a sequence of ink injection.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method records a color image on a recording medium while performing a main scan operation by using a first recording head having a plurality of ink eject orifices for ejecting an ink of a first color and a second recording head having a plurality of ink eject orifices for ejecting an ink of a second color. The method includes the steps of dividing a record area of each of the first and second recording heads into a plurality of blocks, and performing a main scan operation a plurality of number of times for the same area of the recording medium by using different blocks of the plurality of blocks of each of the first and second recording heads, thereby sequentially recording a plurality of thinned images of the first color and a plurality of thinned images of the second color. Different thinning mask patterns are used for the blocks of each recording head and the thinning mask pattern for each block is maintained constant during recording on the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head with a number of ink ejection orifices for ejecting ink. The number of ink ejection orifices are grouped into N blocks which can be driven simultaneously, are arranged in an eject orifice array and perform recording by divisionally driving the N blocks. A recording medium and the recording head are moved relative to each other by a conveying length obtained by equally dividing an ejection orifice array of the recording head into n parts. The recording apparatus masks a signal to be recorded such that 1/n dots, where n<N, of all dots to be formed on an area of the recording medium having a width equal to the conveying length may be formed by one scan of the recording head.

Abstract: A plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks in different colors are aligned, and are reciprocally moved in the alignment direction, and an image is recorded by performing main scans in both the forward and backward paths of the reciprocal movement, and performing a sub-scan after each main scan. An area recordable in a single main scan is thinned out according to thinning arrangements having a complementary relationship therebetween, and thinned-out images are recorded in a plurality of main scans. During this interval, the sub-scan is performed in a direction opposite to the normal sub-scan direction at a predetermined period.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording using a recording head for ejecting an ink from a plurality of ejection orifices, includes a print control unit for performing a print operation while switching a print mode between a thin multi-pass print mode for sequentially recording divided recording data in a plurality of number of times of relative scan operations of the recording head with respect to a single recording area, and a 1-pass print mode for recording all recording data in a single relative scan operation of the recording head, and an eject quantity control unit for controlling the eject quantity of the ink ejected form the recording head so that a total ink quantity on the recording area in the thin multi-pass print mode is larger than a total ink quantity in the 1-pass print mode.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording color images making use of a plurality of inks of different colors (Y, M, C, K), the penetrability of at least one ink is caused to differ from that of the other inks. In particular, the penetrability of an ink higher in lightness is made higher than that of another ink lower in lightness. For example, inks are prepared in such a manner that their penetrability becomes higher in the order of K<M=C<Y, thereby permitting speedy recording of clear and sharp images free from formation of inadequate feathering at boundaries between inks of different colors.

Abstract: A recording head having a plurality of recording elements can operate in a first recording mode for recording a desired image by performing a single scan operation on a predetermined region on a recording medium, and a second recording mode for recording a desired image by recording a thin image a plurality of number of times in a plurality of scan operations on the predetermined region. The scan speed in the second recording mode is set to be higher than that in the first recording mode. For example, when the scan speed in the second recording mode is N times that in the first recording mode, the driving operation of the plurality of recording elements is controlled to obtain a dot pattern in which the minimum dot distance in the scan direction in the second recording mode is N times or more that in the first recording mode. Image quality can be improved without decreasing the throughput.

Abstract: A recording apparatus which has reduced the speed variation and vibration of the motor uses a step motor as a driving source for a carrier for carrying a carriage mounted with a recorder or a recording medium. The apparatus includes a controller that, on accelerating the step motor, controls the step motor so that the step motor is driven with a shorter period than the mechanical time constant of the carrier when the rotary speed of the motor is less than a specified value, and so that the motor is driven with a longer period than the mechanical time constant when the rotary speed of the motor is more than the specified value.

Abstract: This specification discloses a sheet conveying device for conveying a sheet which is applied to an image recording apparatus. More particularly, the specification discloses a sheet conveying device for conveying a sheet by the cooperation between a rotational member rotatable in the direction of sheet conveyance and a contact member which is in contact with the rotational member. According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet conveying device which can convey a sheet without causing oblique movement and irregularity of feeding of the sheet, for example, even under high temperature and high humidity conditions.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes first and second cartridges, each containing ink and a water ink collection unit and detachably mounted on the apparatus, a recovery mechanism for performing recovery operation for a recording head, and a distribution path for distributing the waste ink generated in the recovery operation into the waste ink collection units of the first and second cartridges.