Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus in which in a case of tone-expressing one pixel corresponding to a plurality of areas (printing resolution) in a multi-pass print, it is possible to output a uniform image without graininess or density unevenness over all-tone regions from a low-density region to a high-density region. To this end, by referring to dot patterns in which a print or a non-print of dots onto each pixel (area) corresponding to a printing resolution are in advance defined, quantization data is converted into binary data having the higher printing resolution. At this time, the dot patterns are prepared to be different from each other for M times of scans in a multi-pass print of M passes. In consequence, it is possible to restrict a variation of a coverage ratio due to a printing position displacement in each printing scan.

Abstract: A recording apparatus or a method for recording a pattern according to the present invention can record patterns for adjusting a recording position deviation between a forward direction and a backward direction of a scanning direction at a position in the scanning direction through which both of a first recording medium and a second recording medium smaller than the first recording medium in the scanning direction pass.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and printing method are provided that can, without the addition of a special structure, suppress density imbalance between the print images formed by ink ejected from each of the ejection ports formed on a print head. As for the plurality of ejection ports, one portion of them are established as multiple impact ejection ports that form multiply impacted pixels at which the number of times ink is impacted at the same area is greater than at other pixels of the print area. And, print control is carried out such that more multiply impacted pixels are printed at print areas printed using ejection ports at the ends of the print head than at print areas printed without using ejection ports at the ends of the print head.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and a print head recovery method are provided which effectively execute a preliminary ejection to eject ink not contributing to image printing from nozzle opening of the print head to maintain the ink ejection performance in good condition. The ink in the print head is heated to a first temperature, at which a first preliminary ejection is executed. Then, when the ink temperature falls to a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature, a second preliminary ejection is executed.

Abstract: There are provided an inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method, whereby, the temperature of a print head is controlled and the ejection volume of ink to be ejected is stabilized to print a high-quality image, even at a high printing duty. Based on print data, an ejection number of ink to be ejected into a unit printing area is counted. The print head is heated to a target temperature that is raised in consonance with an increase in the count value.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a recording apparatus is provided which is capable of recording a plurality of patterns, on a recording medium, for detecting an amount of displacement between a recording position of a first discharge port array and a recording position of a second discharge port array in a conveyance direction and acquiring an amount of inclination based on the amount of displacement without conveying the recording medium.

Abstract: Wet wiping processing is performed on an ink ejection opening forming surface of a print head by use of a wiper. Then, as bubble removal processing, the print head is heated by use of either an electrothermal conversion element or a heat generating element located inside the print head, and then a control unit causes the print head to perform preliminary ejection K1 and preliminary ejection K2.

Abstract: Degradation in image quality due to disturbance in landing positions of satellites is suppressed. When scanning and printing with a printing head which has a first nozzle array ejecting relatively large ejection amount of ink, a second nozzle array arranged on one side of the first nozzle array in a scan direction and a third nozzle array arranged on the other side of the first nozzle array in the scan direction, the second and third nozzle arrays ejecting a relatively small ejection amount of ink with the same color, a printing rate of one of the second and third nozzle arrays located at the front side in the scan direction is controlled lower than that of the other located at the back side.

Abstract: When completing an image in a predetermined area by an odd or even number of bidirectional printing scans, this invention makes it possible to suppress lines of image defects and density variations and thereby print a high-quality image at high speed. In completing an image by an odd number of bidirectional printing scans, the print data for small ink droplets and large ink droplets are thinned using the first and second thinning pattern. The first and second thinning pattern thin the print data for small ink droplets and large ink droplets so that a difference between the total print ratio of all forward printing scans of the odd number of scans and the total print ratio of all backward printing scans of the odd number of scans when the first thinning pattern is used differs from that when the second thinning pattern is used.

Abstract: The present invention uses a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of a print head configured to eject ink, and senses the environmental temperature of a printing apparatus. The temperature of the print head is corrected based on the environmental temperature only if information from the temperature sensor is different from the last information acquired.

Abstract: Quality degradation of a print image due to a deviation amount in a landing position of ink is prevented while suppressing degradation of through-put. In a method of completing a print to a unit region by at least one reciprocal scan to the unit region of a print medium by a printing head in which plural ink ejection ports are arrayed for ejecting ink, a printing rate in a scan direction where a deviation amount in a landing position of ink in an array direction of the ink ejection ports is relatively large is set relatively low and the printing rate in the scan direction where the deviation amount in the landing position of ink in the array direction of the ink ejection ports is relatively small is set relatively high.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus in which in a case of tone-expressing one pixel corresponding to a plurality of areas (printing resolution) in a multi-pass print, it is possible to output a uniform image without graininess or density unevenness over all-tone regions from a low-density region to a high-density region. To this end, by referring to dot patterns in which a print or a non-print of dots onto each pixel (area) corresponding to a printing resolution are in advance defined, quantization data is converted into binary data having the higher printing resolution. At this time, the dot patterns are prepared to be different from each other for M times of scans in a multi-pass print of M passes. In consequence, it is possible to restrict a variation of a coverage ratio due to a printing position displacement in each printing scan.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid ejection head which includes a plurality of ejection ports 302 arranged so as to form an ejection port row and which, after a recovery process of expanding and transferring a bubble toward an ink supply port, allows the bubble to be smoothly removed from a nozzle 310. electrothermal transducing elementA plurality of nozzle filters 306 are arranged between an ink supply port and the ink channel 304 so that ink supplied to the bubbling chamber 303 through the ink supply port is passed between the nozzle filters 306 to separate impurities contained in the ink, from the ink. When a distance between an ink channel inlet 311 and the nozzle filter 306 is defined as L1 and a distance between the adjacent nozzle filters 306 is defined as L2, a relationship between L1 and L2 satisfies L1?L2.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus and printing method are provided that can, without the addition of a special structure, suppress density imbalance between the print images formed by ink ejected from each of the ejection ports formed on a print head. As for the plurality of ejection ports, one portion of them are established as multiple impact ejection ports that form multiply impacted pixels at which the number of times ink is impacted at the same area is greater than at other pixels of the print area. And, print control is carried out such that more multiply impacted pixels are printed at print areas printed using ejection ports at the ends of the print head than at print areas printed without using ejection ports at the ends of the print head.

Abstract: Wet wiping processing is performed on an ink ejection opening forming surface of a print head by use of a wiper. Then, as bubble removal processing, the print head is heated by use of either an electrothermal conversion element or a heat generating element located inside the print head, and then a control unit causes the print head to perform preliminary ejection K1 and preliminary ejection K2.

Abstract: Degradation in image quality due to disturbance in landing positions of satellites is suppressed. When scanning and printing with a printing head which has a first nozzle array ejecting relatively large ejection amount of ink, a second nozzle array arranged on one side of the first nozzle array in a scan direction and a third nozzle array arranged on the other side of the first nozzle array in the scan direction, the second and third nozzle arrays ejecting a relatively small ejection amount of ink with the same color, a printing rate of one of the second and third nozzle arrays located at the front side in the scan direction is controlled lower than that of the other located at the back side.

Abstract: Quality degradation of a print image due to a deviation amount in a landing position of ink is prevented while suppressing degradation of through-put. In a method of completing a print to a unit region by at least one reciprocal scan to the unit region of a print medium by a printing head in which plural ink ejection ports are arrayed for ejecting ink, a printing rate in a scan direction where a deviation amount in a landing position of ink in an array direction of the ink ejection ports is relatively large is set relatively low and the printing rate in the scan direction where the deviation amount in the landing position of ink in the array direction of the ink ejection ports is relatively small is set relatively high.

Abstract: A recording apparatus or a method for recording a pattern according to the present invention can record patterns for adjusting a recording position deviation between a forward direction and a backward direction of a scanning direction at a position in the scanning direction through which both of a first recording medium and a second recording medium smaller than the first recording medium in the scanning direction pass.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a recording apparatus is provided which is capable of recording a plurality of patterns, on a recording medium, for detecting an amount of displacement between a recording position of a first discharge port array and a recording position of a second discharge port array in a conveyance direction and acquiring an amount of inclination based on the amount of displacement without conveying the recording medium.

Abstract: The order of the arrangement of ejection opening arrays of two types of ink overlapping in reciprocating scan is decided as follows. An ejection order is decided so that the case where the fixing areas of a main droplet and a satellite are different (dot area is increased) in the forward and backward scan first occurs. By this configuration, the area of the dot and the portion in which different colors are generated due to the difference in the overlapping order in the reciprocating scan can be reduced, compared with the case where the arrangement order is opposite to the above-described case. As a result, a difference in color between areas for which printing is completed by the reciprocating scanning is reduced and thus color unevenness of a printed image can be reduced.