Abstract: On the basis of a discrimination parameter for discriminating more detailed brightness in an image, the brightness of the image is discriminated, and the optimum degree of correction component is set for the image, thereby performing a more faithful reproduction of the image indicated by image data. Therefore, a highlight point being a brightness value associated with a cumulative frequency of reaching a predetermined value is calculated in a high-brightness area on the basis of a histogram obtained with respect to the number of pixels of a brightness value indicated by the image data, and the image is discriminated in its entire brightness on the basis of the highlight point. On the other hand, a ratio of the cumulative frequency in a predetermined low-brightness area to the number of all the pixels in the histogram is calculated. On the basis of the calculated ratio and the discriminated brightness, a gamma value indicating degree of correction the brightness value to a value of more light image is defined.

Abstract: A liquid container for a liquid jet recording apparatus includes a first chamber containing negative pressure producing material and having a liquid outlet. At a lower part of the cartridge and contactable to the liquid jet head, the liquid container supplies liquid from the cartridge to the liquid jet head. An air vent allows ambient air into the cartridge. A second chamber communicates with the first chamber by means of a communication part, except for which the second chamber is substantially hermetically sealed. The second chamber is disposed at the lower part of the cartridge and provides a liquid reservoir for the first chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information recording medium capable of, in the case of recording information signals such as high density information, sufficiently transferring the information signals, and suppressing resonance upon high speed rotation and enhancing the durability of the medium. The medium includes a substrate, a recording layer provided on the substrate for recording an information signal, and a light transmission layer laminated on the recording layer, wherein an information signal is recorded or reproduced on or from the medium by making light incident on the medium from the light transmission layer side. The substrate includes a core layer made from a resin, and a surface layer made from a resin and integrated with the core layer.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus which performs recording using a plurality of types of inks which are different in nature such as level of thickness, improved to attain excellent gradation of recorded image with a reduced number of ink types which are prepared beforehand. In one form, a clear ink which does not contain any dye is mixed with an ink which contains dye so as to form an ink blend of a density which can be set by varying the mixing ratio. The ink blend thus formed is supplied to a recording head. The invention also provides an ink jet recording apparatus which permits inks of different compositions to be blended within the recording apparatus so a to enable selection of ink composition which is optimum for the image to be recorded or purpose of use.

Abstract: Ink which contains surfactant in the amount of not exceeding the critical micelle concentration in the ink but exceeding the critical micelle concentration in purified water, is filled into a cartridge, comprising a first chamber which encloses a negative pressure producing material, and a second chamber in communication with said first chamber only through a narrow passage Then, said ink is supplied to ink jet head and printed.

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: An optical disc molding apparatus is able to mold an optical disc in which the occurrence of swollen portions of trumpet shape on the upper and lower surfaces of on the outer peripheral portion of a disc base may be minimized and in which a burr may be prevented from being produced on the outer peripheral portion of the disc base. In the optical disc molding apparatus having a ring (6) for molding an outer diameter portion of a disc base and holding a stamper (5) for transfer a signal pit, a holding surface of the ring (6) for holding the stamper (5) is formed as the concave and convex surfaces comprising a plurality of concentric land portions (21) and a plurality of concentric groove portions (22). The outer peripheral surface of the stamper (5) is held by each land portion (21) with a pressure.

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. The temperature of the recording head is raised to a predetermined temperature which is higher than for normal ink discharge, ink is recovered from the head through the discharge opening at the predetermined temperature and then the head temperature is lowered and a printing operation is performed.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method which can produce an image excellent in gradation and resolution and allows the image for text, graphics and listing to the obtained at high speed and good quality. The present invention allows a desired recorded image to be obtained by exchangeably comprising an ink jet unit for producing the image excellent in gradation, and an ink jet unit having higher character quality and capable of recording at high speed, and effecting recording control in accordance with the ink jet unit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method record using different kinds of ink each having the same series color and a different density. The jet recording apparatus includes a converting unit for converting an input image density signal into an output image density signal, a binary unit for converting the output image density signal into binary data, an inverting unit for inverting the binary data, and a distributing unit for the binary data inverted and binary data to be inverted to drive data for an ink discharge unit and drive data for another ink discharge unit. Density unevenness and texture which arise from an image process, particularly a binary process, can be prevented. Different kinds of ink, each of which has the same series color and a different density, are respectively scanned so as not to overlap on the same pixel.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and ink jet recording method record using different kinds of ink each having the same series color and a different density. The jet recording apparatus includes a converting unit for converting an input image density signal into an output image density signal, a binary unit for converting the output image density signal into binary data, an inverting unit for inverting the binary data, and a distributing unit for the binary data inverted and binary data to be inverted to drive data for an ink discharge unit and drive data for another ink discharge unit. Density unevenness and texture which arise from an image process, particularly a binary process, can be prevented. Different kinds of ink, each of which has the same series color and a different density, are respectively scanned so as not to overlap on the same pixel.

Abstract: A container for containing printing liquid for supplying to an ink jet head for an ink jet recording apparatus. The container includes a first chamber containing negative pressure producing material and having an air vent communicating with ambient air and a supply port for supplying printing liquid to the ink jet head. The container also includes a second chamber communicating with the first chamber via a communication port and providing a printing liquid reservoir for the first chamber. The capillary force provided by the negative pressure producing material adjacent a wall extending from the communication port and decreasing in a direction perpendicular to and towards the wall at least adjacent a part of the communication port which is uppermost in use of the container.

Abstract: The mounting positions of a plurality of recording heads (1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K) are set to be variable with respect to a paper feed direction, so that a post-ejection recording head (1Y) is mounted at the downstream side in the paper feed direction as compared to a pre-ejection recording head, thereby preventing generation of banding in color ink jet recording, and improving image quality.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method for recording in which an ink is discharged by the pressure of a bubble generated in the ink by means of thermal energy, having the steps of preparing an ink jet head having a liquid path provided with a heating element and communicated with a discharge opening supplying the ink into the liquid path, the ink having a surface tension equal to or less than critical surface tension of a recording medium generating thermal energy for generating a bubble with the heating element in such a manner that the bubble is communicated with the atmosphere from the discharge opening when the generated bubble has a negative internal pressure and discharging the ink from the discharge opening by means of the pressure of the bubble generated.

Abstract: An ink jet color recording method forms a multi-color image on a single recording medium using a monochrome recording apparatus, which includes a mounting portion for detachably mounting an ink recording head for recording by ejecting a monochrome ink, a feed unit for feeding the recording medium, and a discharge unit for discharging the recording medium. First recording information is supplied to a first ink recording head, attached to the mounting portion, for ejecting a first ink, recording is performed using the first ink on the recording medium fed to the recording region by the feed unit, and the recording medium is discharged by the discharge unit.

Abstract: The ink jet recording apparatus includes: first ink tanks that are replaceable and contain first inks containing colorants; a second ink tank that is replaceable and contains a second ink containing no colorant; third ink generating means to generate third inks by mixing the first inks and the second ink; and third ink tanks that contain the generated third inks with different mixing ratios and can supply the third inks to recording heads for selective ejection.

Abstract: In forming an image with plural recording heads corresponding to plural inks of different densities, the image data are so distributed that the image is formed with the ink of low density until the image density reaches a predetermined density level, but is formed with the inks of low and high densities when the image density exceeds the predetermined density level, and the distributed data are corrected according to the detection of temperature relating to the recording heads, whereby a desired recorded image can be obtained even in the presence of a variation in the head temperature. Also the image data are distributed in such a manner that, when the remaining amount of one of the plural inks becomes low, the recording is conducted with the remaining ink, whereby a desired image can be obtained even when the remaining amount of one of the plural inks with different densities becomes low.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by using a plurality of recording heads arranged at a predetermined interval in a scan direction, the recording heads are caused to scan corresponding divided recording areas. When the recording heads are caused to scan the corresponding divided recording areas, at least one of the recording heads is caused to record in a plurality of different recording areas. Positions of a recording medium are defined at a plurality of reference positions provided for the recording areas in which the recording is made.

Abstract: A leather coloring process for carrying out coloring on a natural leather, or a natural leather which has been subjected to degreasing. The coloring process is accomplished by ink-jet coloring on at least a partial area of the natural leather.

Abstract: In a recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium by using a plurality of recording heads arrange at a predetermined interval in a scan direction, said recording heads are caused to scan corresponding divided recording areas, said recording heads are caused to make the record by sharing the corresponding divided recording areas when said recording heads are caused to scan the divided recording areas, and record signals to be inputted to the recording heads corresponding to the divided recording areas to be recorded in the shared manner, are independently corrected for each of the divided recording areas. As a result, the occurrence of the density difference between divided areas is prevented.