Abstract: In an information processing system, a printer driver in a host processor transfers print data to a print buffer in a serial printer having a configuration of one or more print heads. The print head configuration serially scans a predetermined number of print positions of a line and the print buffer for each print head has storage locations corresponding to the predetermined number of print positions. The printer driver determines empty storage locations of the current print head scan and sends print data for the next scan to the determined empty storage locations of the current scan in the print buffer.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprising, timer means for measring an elapse time from a predetermined measurement start timing, a backup power source for supplying power to said timer means when a main power source is turned off, and control means for changing a content and/or the number of times of a recover operation for recovering and preventing a discharge error in a discharge port for discharging an ink on the basis of the elapse time.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus or more specifically an ink-jet printer, a plurality of gears are disposed in parallel with the direction of movement of a carriage and a slide gear is connected with the carriage outside of the recording space and is made to engage with one of a plurality of the gears corresponding the moving position of the carriage. The control sequences each for causing a gear being shifted from one gear engagement position to the adjacent position, are so combined that the gear can be shifted past the adjacent gear engagement position to a desired gear engagement position and the overlapped operations in each of the gear shift control sequence combinations can be skipped.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and method achieves efficient use of memory by dynamically changing memory allocation of a printer, and thus improves total throughput of the printer. The type of printhead-integrated ink cartridge attached to a carriage is discriminated in accordance with a signal from a cartridge discrimination resistor. If the ink cartridge is for color printing, in a DRAM, large memory areas are allocated to a print-control work area and an image buffer. If the ink cartridge is for monochromatic printing, small memory areas are allocated to the print-control work area and the image buffer.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for performing a recording operation on recording paper includes a recording head for performing the recording operation on the recording paper, a carriage which carries the recording head, and is movable along a convey path of the recording paper, a conveying unit for conveying the recording paper, a drive source, and a lock pawl which is arranged along a moving path of the carriage and can transmit a drive force from the drive source to the conveying unit in accordance with movement of the carriage.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a timer for measuring an elapse of time from a predetermined measurement start timing, a backup power source for supplying power to the timer when a main power source is turned off, and a controller for changing the content and/or the frequency of a recover operation for recovering and preventing a discharge error in a discharge port for discharging ink on the basis of the elapsed time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording material. The recording apparatus comprises a stepping motor, a recording head capable of reciprocating along the recorded material by a drive force of the stepping motor to effect recording on the recording material, an angular position detector for detecting a rotated angular position of a rotor of the stepping motor, a controller for controlling drive of the stepping motor in a closed-loop manner dependent on the detected result of the detector, a controller for operating the stepping motor in a mode of stepwise motor drive, a movement position detector for detecting a movement position of the recording head, and switching circuitry for switching over between the closed-loop control and the stepwise motor drive dependent on the detected value of the movement position detector.

Abstract: A recording apparatus effects a recording operation by scanning a recording medium in a predetermined direction with a recording head provided with discharge openings for recording liquid. A cap member is capable of covering a face with discharge openings of said recording head. A transmission member causes said cap member to cover said face with discharge openings in response to a motion setting said recording head to a predetermined position; and engaging members consisting of a protruding part are provided on one of said recording head and a carriage supporting said head. The protruding part engages a receiving part for said protruding part formed on the other of said recording head and said carriage, wherein said protruding part and said receiving part mutually engage at two points when said cap member covers said face with discharge openings.