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: An ink jet recording method uses black ink and a plurality of inks having different colors, which have ink penetration properties different from that of the black ink. The method includes generating multi-level black recording datum on the basis of a multi-level color recording datum of a discrimination pixel, wherein a ratio of generation of black recording datum is changed in accordance with a multi-level color recording datum of a pixel marginal to the discrimination pixel; and recording a color image on the basis of the multi-level color recording datum and the multi-level black recording datum generated by the generating step.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and a recording method for recording images of high dignity with the amount of ink placed per unit area of a recording medium being always kept constant even if the resolvability when recording is effected changes. When the amount of ink of an ink droplet discharged from a recording head is constant (25 pl), the average number of recorded dots conformity to the resolvability is found on the basis thereof, and the number of recordable dots is found from this average number of dots. The difference between this number of actually recorded dots and the average number of recorded dots is adjusted by reducing the value of recording data in advance.

Abstract: According to an image processing method and apparatus of the present invention, an outline portion is extracted from input image data, and a pixel whose dot size is to be changed is extracted. The input image data is printed without any change, and the pixel whose dot size is to be changed is overlap-printed while the dot size is increased. Therefore, smoothing can be sufficiently performed in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction without increasing the dot density and decreasing the recording speed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by discharging ink to the surface of the recording medium, wherein ink is reserved in an ink tank including a negative pressure generating member, such as an absorber and a foaming member, and a function of accurately detecting the residual quantity such that depletion to a predetermined level can be detected is realized. Light emitted by a photointerrupter is allowed to pass through a portion of a wall surface of the ink tank made of transparent plastic or the like which is transmissible with respect to detection light emitted by the photointerrupter to detect change in the light reflectance in the boundary portion between the wall surface and the ink absorber. In accordance with reflectance obtained in a case where no ink exists in the detected portion and that obtained in a case where ink exists, the residual quantity of ink can be detected.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus using an ink jet head having a heat generating element for generating thermal energy to be used to discharge ink, comprises a unit for deriving an amount .increment.Q.sub.i indicative of a heat amount stored in i (i.gtoreq.1) portions of said ink jet head sectioned by thermal time constants, corresponding to a heat amount applied to said ink jet head at a predetermined time interval .increment.t, a unit for multiplying an amount .increment.T.sub.i (n-1) indicative of the heat amount stored in the i-sectioned portion of the predetermined time interval .increment.t earlier by a predetermined constant E.sub.i corresponding to the sectioned thermal time constant, a unit for adding the amount .increment.Q.sub.i to the product, a unit for storing the sum as the amount .increment.T.sub.i (n) indicative of the heat amount stored in the i-sectioned portion, a unit for summing all amounts .increment.T.sub.1 (n) to determine an amount .increment.

Abstract: In image recording by discharging plural inks of different characteristics onto a recording medium, recording pixels to be recorded by at least one of the inks of either yellow, magenta or cyan color subjected to pixel expansion are expanded in four direction, then a logic product is calculated between the expanded pixels and the pixels to be recorded with an ink which is black not subjected to pixel expansion, and the recording pixels to be recorded by the ink which is black not subjected to pixel expansion are replaced by the pixels formed by the inks (Y, M, C) subjected to pixel expansion. Thus high-quality image recording is made possible even in case the inks of different properties are brought into mutual contact.

Abstract: A recording head having an ejection portion group for ejecting a black ink, and ejection portion groups for ejecting color inks is used. When a black image to be printed by the black ink is present adjacent to a color image to be printed by the color ink, a black image portion adjacent to the color image and a black image portion which is not adjacent to the color image are formed in different scans, thereby obtaining a high-quality image from which ink blurring at a boundary portion between the black and color images is eliminated.

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: Disclosed herein is an ink-jet recording process which comprises using at least color inks of yellow, magenta and cyan colors and a black ink, and ejecting out the inks on a recording material to record a color image on the recording material, wherein the color inks contain a penetrability-imparting surfactant and/or a penetrable solvent, and the black ink contains a pigment as a coloring material. An ink set and an instrument for use in such a process are also disclosed.

Abstract: An information recording-reproduction method wherein: upon reproducing, recorded information corresponding to a predetermined number of sectors from the leading sector of each of a plurality of information tracks on an optical disk is preliminarily stored on a buffer memory, and during a period in which the optical pickup is shifted to another information track, the recording information, stored in the buffer memory, is reproduced; and upon recording, during a period in which the optical pickup is shifted to another information track, recording information is temporarily stored in the buffer memory, and after completion of the recording, the recording information is recorded on the optical disk. In this method, information tracks, which are formed on the optical disk discontinuously with one .another, are regarded as if they were continuous tracks, and the apparent recording and reproducing operation is carried out continuously.

Abstract: A transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a distributed layer of image forming elements, and an image forming method using the recording medium are provided. The distributed layer comprises first and second image forming elements. The first image forming elements comprise at least two species of different coloring characteristics which are capable of decreasing their transferabilities when provided with at light and heat energy under respectively prescribed at least two energy application conditions corresponding to the coloring characteristics. The second image forming element is capable of decreasing its transferability under any one of the at least two energy application conditions.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording and reproducing apparatus includes a magnetic head for modulating a magnetic field according to a recording signal. There are three separate coils around a single magnetic core the magnetic head. Three coil driving circuits are included, each one associated with a separate coil for switching the direction of magnetic field generated by said separate coils. A selecting circuit is used for starting or stopping the transmission of the recording signal to the coil driving circuits.

Abstract: In an objective lens driving apparatus used in an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus or the like, a vibration is suppressed and a resonance peak on transfer function is suppressed when movable portions are moved in focusing and tracking directions and when these portions are turned around focusing and tracking directions. An elastic body which supports the movable portions movably in two directions, i.e., focusing direction and tracking direction to a fixed portion includes a bent portion in an intermediate portion between the side of movable portion and the side of fixed portion. A damper member is adhered to bridge a gap between a branched arm portion branching from a linear portion extending from the side of movable portion, and a fixed portion. The bent portion couples two linear portions and which are not on the same line.

Abstract: A method for producing a liquid discharging recording head including an ink discharge opening, an ink supply opening, an ink channel communicating with the ink discharge opening and the ink supply opening, and an energy generating element provided corresponding to the ink channel and adapted for generating energy to be utilized for ink discharge comprises the steps of:forming a first photosensitive material layer for ink channel formation, on a substrate bearing thereon the energy generating element;pattern exposing the first photosensitive material layer for forming the ink channel;forming a second photosensitive material layer on the first photosensitive material layer;pattern exposing the second photosensitive material layer for forming the ink discharge opening and the ink supply opening; anddeveloping the first and the second layers of photosensitive materials.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for effecting the recording of an image on a recording medium has conveying member for conveying a transfer recording medium having a transfer recording layer whose transfer characteristic is varied by first energy and second energy differing from the first energy being imparted thereto, a recording section having first energy imparting member for imparting the first energy to the transfer recording medium and second energy imparting member for imparting the second energy to the transfer recording medium, the first and second energy imparting member being provided along the conveyance path of the transfer recording medium conveyed by the conveying member, a transfer section for transferring an image formed on the transfer recording medium in the recording section to the recording medium, and heater provided upstream of the recording section with respect to the direction of conveyance of the transfer recording medium for imparting heat energy to the transfer recording medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for effecting recording on a recording medium is portable and capable of bearing against the recording medium. The recording apparatus comprises recording means for effecting recording on the recording medium, and control means for controlling the ON and OFF of recording by the recording means.

Abstract: An image forming method, comprising: providing a recording medium including a substrate and a transfer recording layer disposed thereon, the transfer recording layer being capable of changing its transfer characteristic when provided with light and heat energies; imparting heat energy to the transfer recording layer and imparting light energy to the transfer recording layer at an elevated temperature under such a condition that at least one of the light and heat energies corresponds to a recording information signal, thereby to form a transferable image in the transfer recording layer; and transferring the transferable image in the transfer recording layer to a transfer-receiving medium wherein at least light energy is imparted to the transfer recording layer prior to the formation of the transferable image.

Abstract: A transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a plurality of image forming elements bonded thereto by a binder is provided. The surface of each image forming element at least partially protrudes out of the binder. Such transfer recording medium may be prepared by applying the binder onto the substrate in a prescribed thickness, disposing the image forming elements in excess on the binder, and then removing the excess of the image forming elements. The thus prepared transfer recording medium provides an image having a high density and a faithfully reproducible color.