Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus in which printing elements used in the printing of each raster can be set at will. The printing apparatus has a carriage equipped with a printhead having a plurality of printing elements arranged in a predetermined direction, and the carriage is made to scan across a printing medium in a direction that intersects the direction in which the printing elements are arranged, thereby performing printing on the medium. The printing elements are divided into a plurality of blocks each consisting of a predetermined number of successive printing elements, print data that has been transmitted in raster form is stored in a receive buffer, and data that has been stored in the receive buffer is divided and stored in a print buffer having a plurality of areas corresponding to the blocks of printing elements.

Abstract: For an ink jet recording apparatus that utilizes the STOP mode function of a CPU to reduce power consumption and a method for controlling the recording apparatus, many NMI interrupts occur due to chattering generated upon switching when the trigger for the restoration from the STOP mode is effectuated by use of the power switch, and the normal ON/OFF process for the power supply is disabled. For example, therefore, an ink jet recording apparatus, which is provided with a CPU having plural modes including a mode to reduce the power consumption by suspending the clock signal as an operational mode, and receives a signal from a power switching unit as an NMI interrupt signal for the execution of NMI interrupt process, is arranged to be provided with a controller for prohibiting the NMI interrupt until operation is completed by way of the status of the recording apparatus with respect to the NMI interrupt process to be executed by the input of the signal from the power switching unit.

Abstract: This invention provides a low-cost, economical printing apparatus and printing system. For example, characteristic information of a printhead which is described, printed, adhered, or formed on a printhead or its accessory (e.g., a packaging paper box) in a format identifiable to human or an electronic device is man-machine-interactively inputted to a host or electronically inputted to the host by a barcode reader or the like. The printing apparatus discriminates whether or not a command sent from the host via an interface is a command that includes characteristic information of the printhead, and control is made to write the characteristic information of the print head into a non-volatile memory (EEPROM) in accordance with the discriminating result. The printhead is controlled in accordance with the characteristic information written into the non-volatile memory to execute a print process.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing head and an ink-jet printing apparatus can reduce fluctuation of density of an ink ejected from each nozzle by ejecting ink of different densities from the same nozzle without varying size of an ink droplet, or by controlling ejection of a mixture ink, in which a plurality of inks are mixed, for forming an image. The ink-jet printing head includes a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink, a plurality of ink passages communicated with the plurality of ejection openings, ink ejecting energy generating elements provided in the plurality of ink passages, a mixing liquid chamber connected to the plurality of ink passages in common, a plurality of individual liquid chambers supplying ink to the mixing liquid chamber, and a valve mechanism provided between the individual liquid chamber and the mixing liquid chamber and controlling supply amount of the inks supplied from the individual liquid chambers.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing head and an ink-jet printing apparatus can reduce fluctuation of density of an ink ejected from each nozzle by ejecting ink of different densities from the same nozzle without varying size of an ink droplet, or by controlling ejection of a mixture ink, in which a plurality of inks are mixed, for forming an image. The ink-jet printing head includes a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink, a plurality of ink passages communicated with the plurality of ejection openings, ink ejecting energy generating elements provided in the plurality of ink passages, a mixing liquid chamber connected to the plurality of ink passages in common, a plurality of individual liquid chambers supplying ink to the mixing liquid chamber, and a valve mechanism provided between the individual liquid chamber and the mixing liquid chamber and controlling supply amount of the inks supplied from the individual liquid chambers.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing head and an ink-jet printing apparatus can reduce fluctuation of density of an ink ejected from each nozzle by ejecting ink of different densities from the same nozzle without varying size of an ink droplet, or by controlling ejection of a mixture ink, in which a plurality of inks are mixed, for forming an image. The ink-jet printing head includes a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink, a plurality of ink passages communicated with the plurality of ejection openings, ink ejecting energy generating elements provided in the plurality of ink passages, a mixing liquid chamber connected to the plurality of ink passages in common, a plurality of individual liquid chambers supplying ink to the mixing liquid chamber, and a valve mechanism provided between the individual liquid chamber and the mixing liquid chamber and controlling supply amount of the inks supplied from the individual liquid chambers.

Abstract: An ink-jet printing head and an ink-jet printing apparatus can reduce fluctuation of density of an ink ejected from each nozzle by ejecting ink of different densities from the same nozzle without varying size of an ink droplet, or by controlling ejection of a mixture ink, in which a plurality of inks are mixed, for forming an image. The ink-jet printing head includes a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink, a plurality of ink passages communicated with the plurality of ejection openings, ink ejecting energy generating elements provided in the plurality of ink passages, a mixing liquid chamber connected to the plurality of ink passages in common, a plurality of individual liquid chambers supplying ink to the mixing liquid chamber, and a valve mechanism provided between the individual liquid chamber and the mixing liquid chamber and controlling supply amount of the inks supplied from the individual liquid chambers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus in which printing elements used in the printing of each raster can be set at will. The printing apparatus has a carriage equipped with a printhead having a plurality of printing elements arranged in a predetermined direction, and the carriage is made to scan across a printing medium in a direction that intersects the direction in which the printing elements are arranged, thereby performing printing on the medium. The printing elements are divided into a plurality of blocks each consisting of a predetermined number of successive printing elements, print data that has been transmitted in raster form is stored in a receive buffer, and data that has been stored in the receive buffer is divided and stored in a print buffer having a plurality of areas corresponding to the blocks of printing elements.

Abstract: This invention provides a low-cost, economical printing apparatus and printing system. For example, characteristic information of a printhead which is described, printed, adhered, or formed on a printhead or its accessory (e.g., a packaging paper box) in a format identifiable to human or an electronic device is man-machine-interactively inputted to a host or electronically inputted to the host by a barcode reader or the like. The printing apparatus discriminates whether or not a command sent from the host via an interface is a command that includes characteristic information of the printhead, and control is made to write the characteristic information of the print head into a non-volatile memory (EEPROM) in accordance with the discriminating result. The printhead is controlled in accordance with the characteristic information written into the non-volatile memory to execute a print process.

Abstract: For an ink jet recording apparatus that utilizes the STOP mode function of a CPU to reduce power consumption and a method for controlling the recording apparatus, many numbers of NMI interrupts occur due to chattering generated on switch when the trigger for the restoration from the STOP mode is effectuated by use of the power switch, and disable the normal ON/OFF process for the power supply. For example, therefore, an ink jet recording apparatus, which is provided with a CPU having plural modes including a mode to reduce the power consumption by suspending the clock signal as an operational mode, and receiving signal from power switching means as NMI interrupt signal for the execution of NMI interrupt process, is arranged to be provided with control means for prohibiting the NMI interrupt until operation is completed by means of the status of the recording apparatus with respect to the NMI interrupt process to be executed by the input of signal from power switching means.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus, having a recording head and a pair of transport rollers in front of the recording head and another pair of transport rollers behind the recording head, with a larger transport speed for a recording sheet in the latter pair for applying a suitable tension on the recording sheet, is capable of detecting the remaining amount of the sheet in front of the first pair and varying the transport speed and/or the recording area of the recording head after the rear end of the sheet leaves the first paired roller. Consequently, a potential error in record position, resulting from sheet advancement by the second paired rollers only, can be compensated. In this manner the area of precise image recording on the sheet can be expanded.

Abstract: An interface in accordance with IEEE 1284 has a signal output stage which is a totem pole circuit. The totem pole circuit may be damaged if its output signal line is left grounded for an extended period of time or if outputs are being delivered at both ends of the signal line. Drive by the totem pole circuit is limited to a case where a signal to be output is at a low level and to a length of time equivalent to, say, one clock period from the moment the signal makes a transition from the low to a high level. A high impedance is established at all other times during which the high level is in effect, with the high level being maintained by a pull-up resistor connected to the output signal line. As a result, the totem pole circuit will not be damaged even if the output line is grounded while at the high level.

Abstract: A recording apparatus records an image on a recording medium by scanning by a recording head. Mask data for masking record data is set in registers, a record timing signal synchronized with the scan of the recording head is counted up by a counter, and the mask data set in the registers is selected by selectors in accordance with the count. The selected mask data is logically ANDed with the record data to drive the recording head. A load to software is reduced and the recording is attained while the record data is masked with a simple construction.

Abstract: A recording head has a plurality of recording elements which are divided into a plurality of blocks and each block is driven in a time division fashion. The recording head has a signal generation circuit for generating an output signal for selecting a drive block in response to an input signal for designating the drive block from a main body of a recording apparatus. The number of signal lines of the input signal is smaller than the number of signal lines of an output signal. One such recording head is provided for each of a plurality of colors to record a color image. Signal lines of an input signal are common to the respective recording heads. Thus, the number of signal lines between the recording heads and the main body of the recording apparatus is reduced and cost reduction and space saving are attained.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus with a recording device for recording an image on a sheet; a first feeding roller disposed at an upstream side of the recording device and adapted to pinch the sheet and to feed the sheet at a first feeding speed; a second feeding roller disposed at a downstream side of the recording device and adapted to pinch the sheet and to feed the sheet at a second feeding speed faster than the frist feeding speed; and a controller for controlling the first and second feeding roller and adapted to perform different controls in accordance with the state that the sheet is fed by both of the first and second feeding roller, or the state that the sheet is fed by either one of first and second feeding roller.

Abstract: A board copying apparatus comprising a writing board unit carrying a sheet which enables an image to be written thereon, a copying unit capable of forming, on a recording material, a copy image of an image carried by an original, and also capable of forming, on the recording material, a copy image of the image written on the sheet of the board means, a first density setting device for setting the density of the copy image of the image on the board unit, and a second density setting device for setting the density of the copy image of the image on the original. This arrangement eliminates the necessity for troublesome work for adjusting the copying density each time the copying unit is used in board copying mode for copying the image on the board unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an optical system for regenerating an original manuscript; a regenerating member capable of regenerating the original manuscript in different modes; a means for setting the position of the optical system in accordance with respective modes; a detector for detecting information relating to the respective modes from the set position of the optical system, and a control device for controlling the regenerating member in accordance with the detected information by the detector. A protective apparatus is further provided which comprises a process load; a detector for detecting a continuous operation time of the load from the power frequency of an a.c. current supplied to the load, and a control device for controlling the operation of the process load in accordance with the output from the detector. The process load may be a lamp for exposing light on an original manuscript.

Abstract: An image processing system contains a plurality of recording units, each for recording an image on a separate recording material, which are coupled together so that a recording material on which an image is recording on a first recording unit is detected and fed to the next recording unit so as to receive a second image from the second unit and thereby form an overlay on a single recording material.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for sequentially feeding sheet material from a sheet supporting member which supports a stack of sheet material. The feeding apparatus employs a mechanism to cause a feeding roller to engage or disengage the stack. A driving source is provided for transmitting a driving force to the feeding roller and the mechanism for causing the feeding roller to engage or disengage the stack. First and second transmitting mechanisms are provided for transmitting the driving force to the feeding roller and the mechanism for causing engagement or disengagement of the feeding roller and stack respectively. A stop device movable between a position to allow transmission of the driving force to the first and second transmitting mechanisms and a position where the transmitting mechanisms are prevented from transmitting the driving force.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus comprises a hollow rod communicated to a source of vacuum and having a suction head for picking up generally rectangular articles one at a time by the effect of a suction force. At least one pair of finger members for clamping and releasing the articles which has been sucked onto the suction head are provided for effecting a correction in position of the article relative to the suction head. Each of the finger members has an inclined end face which is adapted to support the article sucked onto the suction head from below in engagement with the opposite lower edges of the article.