Abstract: A print buffer for storing recording data is divided into a plurality of segments and the amount of recording data causing a recording head to perform a recording operation is counted on a segment-by-segment basis. A recording medium is compared to the print buffer with respect to a scanning direction of the recording head and segments not corresponding to the inside of the recording medium are selected from the plurality of segments. The amount of recording data included in the selected segments and causing a recording operation to occur is counted and added up to estimate the amount of ink ejected outside the recording medium.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

Abstract: A printhead has a common liquid chamber which receives a liquid, a plurality of main nozzles which align at a predetermined interval on the two sides of the common liquid chamber along the longitudinal direction of the common liquid chamber and used for printing, a plurality of dummy nozzles which align on the two sides of the main nozzles along their array direction and are not used for printing, and a plurality of liquid chambers which communicate with the common liquid chamber while the main and dummy nozzles are open in the liquid chambers. A printing apparatus which drives and controls the printhead for discharging a liquid from the main nozzles and printing on a printing medium includes a toggle preliminary discharge data generation block (77) which alternately switches between the main nozzles and the dummy nozzles every column serving as the driving cycle of all nozzles for the main nozzles and the dummy nozzles.

Abstract: A printer having storing means storing time information indicating the time at which cleaning operations were last performed, with the initial value of time information stored in the storing means being set to a time later than the shipment of the printer. Elapsed time between the time information stored in the storing means and the current time is calculated when a user gives the printer an instruction to start printing operations. The printer performs suitable cleaning operation for a case wherein the calculated value of the elapsed time is negative.

Abstract: An in-jet printing apparatus having a temperature detection device for outputting a signal in correspondence with a temperature, performs printing by using an ink-jet printhead which performs printing on a recording medium by discharging ink. A flag indicating whether acquisition of the temperature information is necessary or not is set, and the temperature information is obtained in accordance with the status of the flag, after the power on of the apparatus. The obtained temperature information is stored into a nonvolatile storage device. The temperature information can be obtained at appropriate timing in accordance with necessity, even if the power is interrupted during the operation. Thus a high-quality printed output can be obtained by performing a stable printing operation.

Abstract: Based upon a designated printing mode of a printer, a raster-data creation unit or a direct-data (or column-data) creation unit creates raster data, which corresponds to a print raster, or direct (or column) data, which corresponds to nozzles used on the printhead of a printer, as print data delivered to the printer. The print data created is transmitted to the printer from a transmitting unit.

Abstract: A printer having storing means storing time information indicating the time at which cleaning operations were last performed, with the initial value of time information stored in the storing means being set to a time later than the shipment of the printer. Elapsed time between the time information stored in the storing means and the current time is calculated when a user gives the printer an instruction to start printing operations. The printer performs suitable cleaning operations for a case wherein the calculated value of the elapsed time is negative.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for producing a fibrous material for a member with which an ink-jet ink comes into contact, including the step of melt spinning a thermoplastic resin, the process comprising the step of treating a spun yarn by bringing it into contact with a glycol added with ethylene oxide.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus which includes a printhead that discharges ink and an ink tank detachably attached to the printhead, and executes printing by using the printhead that discharges the ink supplied from the ink tank, an ink tank detection section detects the presence/absence of the ink tank. On the basis of the detection result, a control circuit inhibits the cleaning operation of the printhead.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage for mounting a recording head for effecting recording by discharging recording ink and for moving the recording head, and a recovery unit for effecting a recovery operation with respect to the recording head. The recording apparatus is forwarded from a manufacturing factory in a condition that the recording head filled with transporting ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage, and further wherein an on-arrival recovery mode executed by the recovery unit upon first usage of the recording apparatus by the user differs from a normal recovery mode executed by the recovery unit after the first usage.

Abstract: A recording apparatus that comprises a cap, an idle suction device for exhausting the cap to the outside, a predischarge device for pre-discharging ink to the cap at designated time intervals, an accumulating device for accumulating the ink by the predischarge, a first comparison device for comparing the accumulated ink with a first threshold value, a first predischarge control device for reducing ink discharge in accordance with the first comparison result, a second comparison device for comparing the accumulated ink with a second threshold value, a predischarge prohibition device for prohibiting predischarge in accordance with the second comparison result, and a second predischarge control device for resuming predischarge in accordance with the period of time defined by the predischarge operation prohibition device, and increasing the ink for predischarge.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing input data in proper adaptation to plural types of printing data input units and environments of use. For this purpose, the type of an input unit is first recognized. For example, when it is recognized that a personal computer capable of causing the printing apparatus to perform a setting process for registration is connected, it is judged that the process has already been performed, and a mode for printing at a high speed is adopted. When it is recognized that a digital camera is connected, since it is likely that the process has not been performed yet, a mode for printing at a low speed is adopted to prevent any reduction in image quality.

Abstract: Based upon a designated printing mode of a printer, a raster-data creation unit or a direct-data creation unit creates raster data, which corresponds to a print raster, or direct data, which corresponds to nozzles used on the printhead of a printer, as print data delivered to the printer. The print data created is transmitted to the printer from a transmitting unit.

Abstract: An in-jet printing apparatus having a temperature detection device for outputting a signal in correspondence with a temperature, performs printing by using an ink-jet printhead which performs printing on a recording medium by discharging ink. A flag indicating whether acquisition of the temperature information is necessary or not is set, and the temperature information is obtained in accordance with the status of the flag, after the power on of the apparatus. The obtained temperature information is stored into a nonvolatile storage device. The temperature information can be obtained at appropriate timing in accordance with necessity, even if the power is interrupted during the operation. Thus a high-quality printed output can be obtained by performing a stable printing operation.

Abstract: The invention is intended to reduce a possibility of the waste ink produced by the marginless printing overflowing from the ink absorber. To realize this, each time the marginless printing is executed, the volume of waste ink produced by the marginless printing is cumulatively added up in order to control a total volume of the waste ink. The waste ink volume to be added up is determined by at least the kind of print medium or the print mode.

Abstract: A printer having storing means storing time information indicating the time at which cleaning operations were last performed, with the initial value of time information stored in the storing means being set to a time later than the shipment of the printer. Elapsed time between the time information stored in the storing means and the current time is calculated when a user gives the printer an instruction to start printing operations. The printer performs suitable cleaning operations for a case wherein the calculated value of the elapsed time is negative.

Abstract: A recording apparatus that records images on a recording medium by use of an ink jet recording head to discharge ink from discharge ports comprises a cap covering the discharge port surface of the ink jet recording head having discharge ports formed thereon, being capable of receiving ink discharged from the discharge ports, idle suction means for exhausting ink received by the cap to the outside, predischarge means for pre-discharging ink from the ink jet recording head to the inside of the cap at designated time intervals aside from recording operation, accumulating means for accumulating the amount of ink consumption by the predischarge, first comparison means for comparing the amount of ink consumption accumulated by the accumulating means with a first threshold value per predischarge, first predischarge control means for controlling to reduce the amount of ink discharge for predischarge to follow in accordance with the comparison result provided by the first comparison means, second comparison means for

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus comprising a carriage for mounting a recording head for effecting recording by discharging recording ink and for moving the recording head, and recovery means for effecting a recovery operation with respect to the recording head, and wherein the recording apparatus is forwarded from a manufacturing factory in a condition that the recording head filled with transporting ink different from the recording ink is mounted on the carriage, and further wherein an on-arrival recovery mode executed by the recovery means upon first usage of the recording apparatus by the user differs from a normal recovery mode executed by the recovery means after the first usage.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an ink jet unit detachably mounted to the carriage of an ink jet recording apparatus. The ink jet unit includes an ink container for storing ink and a casing for retaining the ink container, wherein the casing and ink container are independent from each other so that the ink container can be exchangeably installed in the casing. The casing includes an ink jet recording portion, an opening for mounting the ink container thereto, a guide portion for installing the ink container into an accommodating portion through a rotary motion, a shoe portion generating a resistive feel when the ink container is inserted into the accommodating portion, and a dislocation preventive member. The shoe portion has a pressing device for maintaining fluid communication between the ink container and an ink supply tube contained in the casing.