Abstract: An ink jet recording method records a color image on a recording medium while performing a main scan operation by using a first recording head having a plurality of ink eject orifices for ejecting an ink of a first color and a second recording head having a plurality of ink eject orifices for ejecting an ink of a second color. The method includes the steps of dividing a record area of each of the first and second recording heads into a plurality of blocks, and performing a main scan operation a plurality of number of times for the same area of the recording medium by using different blocks of the plurality of blocks of each of the first and second recording heads, thereby sequentially recording a plurality of thinned images of the first color and a plurality of thinned images of the second color. Different thinning mask patterns are used for the blocks of each recording head and the thinning mask pattern for each block is maintained constant during recording on the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head with a number of ink ejection orifices for ejecting ink. The number of ink ejection orifices are grouped into N blocks which can be driven simultaneously, are arranged in an eject orifice array and perform recording by divisionally driving the N blocks. A recording medium and the recording head are moved relative to each other by a conveying length obtained by equally dividing an ejection orifice array of the recording head into n parts. The recording apparatus masks a signal to be recorded such that 1/n dots, where n<N, of all dots to be formed on an area of the recording medium having a width equal to the conveying length may be formed by one scan of the recording head.

Abstract: An ink jet apparatus carries out a recovery operation if a cap member is not capping a discharge opening when the ink jet apparatus is turned on. The recovery operation includes first wiping a discharge surface with a wiper member, next capping the discharge opening with the cap member, next applying suction to draw ink from the discharge opening using a suction pump, and thereafter discharging ink through the discharge opening, thereby enabling recording of high quality at the beginning of recording after the ink jet apparatus is turned on. The recovery operation may include other steps and be preceded by heating the ink jet head to reduce ink viscosity and enhance the effectiveness of the recovery operation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording color images making use of a plurality of inks of different colors (Y, M, C, K), the penetrability of at least one ink is caused to differ from that of the other inks. In particular, the penetrability of an ink higher in lightness is made higher than that of another ink lower in lightness. For example, inks are prepared in such a manner that their penetrability becomes higher in the order of K<M=C<Y, thereby permitting speedy recording of clear and sharp images free from formation of inadequate feathering at boundaries between inks of different colors.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus for performing recording using a recording head for ejecting an ink from a plurality of ejection orifices, includes a print control unit for performing a print operation while switching a print mode between a thin multi-pass print mode for sequentially recording divided recording data in a plurality of number of times of relative scan operations of the recording head with respect to a single recording area, and a 1-pass print mode for recording all recording data in a single relative scan operation of the recording head, and an eject quantity control unit for controlling the eject quantity of the ink ejected form the recording head so that a total ink quantity on the recording area in the thin multi-pass print mode is larger than a total ink quantity in the 1-pass print mode.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an input unit for inputting image data; a binarization unit for generating a plurality of binarized data by performing a plurality of binarization processings of the image data inputted from the input unit; and a recording unit for performing a plurality of recording processings relative to the same input image data by using the plurality of binarized data generated by the binarization unit.

Abstract: A recording head having a plurality of recording elements can operate in a first recording mode for recording a desired image by performing a single scan operation on a predetermined region on a recording medium, and a second recording mode for recording a desired image by recording a thin image a plurality of number of times in a plurality of scan operations on the predetermined region. The scan speed in the second recording mode is set to be higher than that in the first recording mode. For example, when the scan speed in the second recording mode is N times that in the first recording mode, the driving operation of the plurality of recording elements is controlled to obtain a dot pattern in which the minimum dot distance in the scan direction in the second recording mode is N times or more that in the first recording mode. Image quality can be improved without decreasing the throughput.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting device comprises an optical system for forming the image of a sample to be examined at the image formation point, a first image sensor disposed at a first position for receiving the light image of the sample and converting it into an electrical signal, a second image sensor disposed at a second position for receiving the light image of the sample and converting it into an electrical signal, signal processing systems for processing the signals from the first and second image sensors, and a servo device for controlling the vertical position of the sample relative to the image forming optical system.