Abstract: An image forming method according to the present invention includes obtaining a number of pixels in a sub-scanning direction of a white region in image data, the white region being adjacent to a region at a downstream side in the sub-scanning direction of the region and the region being in the image data and including, continuously in the sub-scanning direction, pixels with a density not smaller than a predetermined density, and correcting a pixel value for a unit region based on the number of pixels of the white region obtained by the obtaining so that a density of the unit region becomes low, the unit region being included in the region at the downstream side thereof in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a power conversion apparatus comprises a power motor and a power converter configured to selectively convert rotation power of the power motor into a gear train 340 for transferring and a gear train for cutting, respectively, depending on a rotation direction of the power motor. The power converter comprises a sun gear configured to receive power from the power motor, a planetary gear configured to receive a rotating force while being engaged with the sun gear and to selectively couple with the gear train for cutting and the gear train for transferring, respectively, a rotating link configured to constrain a position of the sun gear, and a pressing means configured increase an adhesion between the sun gear and the rotating link.

Abstract: Techniques for ensuring maximum readability of barcodes displayed in pixel displays. The techniques use the characteristics of the pixel display to determine the form of the barcode in the pixel display. Determination of the form includes determining a size of the barcode winch renders the barcode's elements easily readable by a barcode reader and a shape, and or orientation of the barcode in the display which permits the entire barcode to be displayed in the display. Additionally, in a barcode with redundant information, the amount of redundant information may be reduced in the displayed barcode. The techniques may be applied to both one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a discharge unit capable of discharging a liquid to a discharge region, a medium movement unit capable of moving in movement directions while supporting a medium onto which the liquid is discharged, a base unit that constitutes a movement path along which the medium movement unit moves, a detected unit, and a detector unit capable of detecting a position of the medium movement unit by detecting the detected unit. The detected unit and the detector unit are disposed so that the detected unit is detected by the detector unit when the medium movement unit is at a protrusion position at which a one direction-side end portion of the medium movement unit which is at a one direction side in the movement directions protrudes more toward the one direction side than does a one direction-side end portion of the base unit.

Abstract: A sheet feeder, including: a sheet supply roller configured to supply a sheet to a sheet feeding path; a sheet feed roller configured to feed the sheet supplied to the sheet feeding path by the sheet supply roller to a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction in which the sheet is fed; a discharge roller configured to discharge the sheet fed by the feed roller to a downstream side in the sheet feeding direction; a drive motor configured to drive a first shaft for rotating the feed roller; a first transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the first shaft to a second shaft for rotating the discharge roller; and a second transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a rotary motion of the second shaft to a third shaft for rotating the sheet supply roller.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: first and second recording modules; a storage accommodating a recording medium; a first path extending from the storage to the first recording module; a second path extending from the storage to the second recording module and including a first shared portion shared with the first path; a first roller pair disposed downstream of a branch position on the first path; and a second roller pair disposed on the first shared portion. The controller is configured to: determine whether a trailing edge of the recording medium on which recording is being performed by the first recording module is located downstream of the first roller pair on the first path; and when the trailing edge is located downstream of the first roller pair on the first path, cause the second roller pair to supply a recording medium from the storage to the second recording module.

Abstract: An imaging unit is provided with a cylindrical lens barrel, and an object-side lens which is disposed in the lens barrel and is fixed to the lens barrel using an adhesive. The lens barrel includes three abutting portions and three adhesive portions. The object-side lens abuts the three abutting portions in an optical axis direction of the object-side lens, and the adhesive portions are formed between an outer circumferential surface of the object-side lens and an inner circumferential surface of the lens barrel, and the adhesive is injected therein. The three adhesive portions are formed at an interval in a circumferential direction. The three adhesive portions and the three abutting portions do not overlap each other in plan view as seen from a vertical direction.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing unit, first and second conveying units conveying a printing medium, a driving unit driving the first and second conveying units, and a control unit controlling the driving unit. The conveyance state of the printing medium makes transition from a first conveyance state in which the printing medium is conveyed only by the first conveying unit to a second conveyance state in which the printing medium is conveyed by both the first and second conveying units. The control unit controls the driving unit based on a fluctuation in a load that mutually acts between the first and second conveying units through the printing medium to suppress a fluctuation in a conveyance amount at the time of the transition of the conveyance state from the first conveyance state to the second conveyance state.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a print head for applying ink on a print medium; a print control unit configured to control the print head; a conveying unit; an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding a conveyance error of conveyance of the print medium in a conveying direction crossing a predetermined direction by the conveying unit with respect to each of a plurality of areas of the print medium that are in positions different from each other in the predetermined direction; and an adjusting unit configured to divide a predetermined area of the print medium in accordance with a conveyance error amount indicated by the information in each of the plurality of areas obtained by the obtaining unit into a plurality of correction areas, and to adjust the amount of ink to be applied onto each of the plurality of correction areas lining up in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a tray receiving a recording medium. A tray guide is movable between first and second positions. A first sensor outputs a first signal indicative of the position of the tray guide. A cleaning mechanism cleans a recording portion. First and second conveyor portions convey the tray. The second conveyor portion has a first and a second roller. A first drive source rotates in a forward and a reverse direction of rotation. A second drive source moves the second roller between a contacting state and a separated state. A second sensor outputs a second signal indicative of a driving amount of the first drive source. A control section controls the second drive source to move the second roller from the contacting state to the separated state under certain conditions. The conditions are based on the sensed driving amount and the sensed position of the tray guide.

Abstract: A recording apparatus that uses photocurable ink includes an ink discharge section that discharges photocurable ink onto a printing medium, a light irradiation section that irradiates curing light onto the photocurable ink that has been discharged onto the printing medium, a tension application mechanism that applies tension to the printing medium and a control section. The control section discharges photocurable ink onto the printing medium by controlling the ink discharge section, and subsequently applies a tension, which is greater than that at the time of ink discharge, to the printing medium by controlling the tension application mechanism, and irradiates curing light onto the photocurable ink that has been discharged onto the printing medium by controlling the light irradiation section in a state in which the tension is being applied to the printing medium.

Abstract: An erasing apparatus of an embodiment includes a reading unit, a printing unit, a transport unit, and a control unit. The reading unit reads an image formed on a sheet. The printing unit includes a plurality of nozzles that output colorants, and prints any one of a mark that is defined in advance or a code image of a machine-readable format on the sheet. The transport unit transports the sheet in order of the reading unit and the printing unit. The control unit detects an amount of deviation of the sheet generated on a transport path based on the image on the sheet which is read by the reading unit, selects which nozzle in the printing unit to output the colorant based on the amount of deviation, and controls the printing unit so as to perform printing from the selected nozzle.

Abstract: Test pattern data corresponds to a test pattern including a first pattern area and a second pattern area. In the first pattern area, patterns extending in a second direction are provided in a stepwise manner in correspondence with respective recording elements such that a gap in the second direction is provided between a back end of one of the patterns or each pattern and a front end of the pattern adjacent thereto. In the second pattern area, pattern columns extending in the second direction are provided in a stepwise manner in correspondence with a set of a predetermined number of consecutively provided recording elements such that a gap in the second direction is provided between a back end of one of the pattern columns or each pattern column and a front end of the pattern column adjacent thereto, the predetermined number being two or more consecutively provided recording elements.

Abstract: Airborne ink mist is prevented from sticking to the detector part of a paper detector disposed on a carriage without using a configuration for capturing the ink mist. A printer has a conveyance path that conveys paper past the print position of a printhead; a carriage that carries the printhead; and a carriage moving mechanism that moves the carriage bidirectionally on the transverse axis of the printer. A paper detector and a shutter that opens and closes the detection part of the paper detector are disposed on the carriage. When the carriage moves to one end of the range of carriage movement, a shutter operating member disposed on a second side frame facing the carriage contacts the shutter and moves the shutter from its open position or closed position to the other position.

Abstract: In printing apparatus, an edge sensor detects a serpentine amount caused by transportation of a web. A predicted waveform data generating unit generates predicted waveform data on the serpentine amount to be produced in the following web in accordance with actually measured waveform data on the detected serpentine amount. A correcting unit corrects a printing position of an image in accordance with a shift amount, and applies a corrected printing position to a printing head. Here, the shift amount is determined with the shift amount determining unit in accordance with the predicted waveform data. Accordingly, the shift amount is determinable in accordance with the actually measured waveform data on the serpentine amount detected with the edge sensor more accurately than that through a method in which a shift amount is directly determined. This allows suppressed misregister.

Abstract: A calibration-pattern printing method in a page-wide array printer having an array of print nozzles extending in a transverse direction of the printer comprises printing a respective calibration pattern portion on a substrate by at least one first portion of the nozzle array, changing the relative position of the nozzle array and substrate in the transverse direction then printing a respective further calibration pattern portion on the substrate by the at least one first portion of the nozzle array so that a given first nozzle-array portion prints a calibration pattern portion and further calibration pattern portion that are at least partially aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction and join up in the transverse direction to form an enlarged calibration pattern portion.

Abstract: In the case of performing duplex printing on a continuous sheet, by setting a length of a non-image area to an optimum length, both of mark detection having high reliability and the suppression of a sheet consumption amount are achieved. For this purpose, when duplex printing of a plurality of images on front and back surfaces of the continuous sheet is performed, on the basis of a length of the image to be printed precedently to a non-image area W3 on the second surface, the length of the non-image area common to the front and back surface is set.

Abstract: A printing system includes a media transport device to move a medium at a speed ranging from about 15.24 mpm to about 609.6 mpm. The system includes an ink applicator to apply ink on the medium, and a treatment applicator to apply a treatment composition (including liquid vehicle, polyvalent metal salt fixing agent, and latex resin having an acid number less than 20) before or after the ink is applied, to form a printed-on medium. The system further includes a heating system programmed to: i) dry the printed-on medium at a predetermined temperature for a reduced dwell time (from about 1 second to about 40 seconds); and ii) leave residual moisture in the printed-on medium for a predetermined time after the reduced dwell time. The residual moisture is at a level that is higher than an initial moisture content of the medium prior to treatment composition and ink application.

Abstract: There is provided an ink-jet recording apparatus including: a first transporting portion provided in a first transport path; a support member configured to support the sheet; a recording portion; a plurality of contact portions configured to come into contact with the sheet; a plurality of support ribs; a second transporting portion provided in a second transport path connected with the first transport path; and a third transporting portion configured to sandwich and transport the sheet in the first transporting direction or toward the second transport path. On the upstream side to the second transporting portion in the second transporting direction, a projecting portion is formed with the upper guide member to project toward the lower guide member below a virtual line linking a nip position of the sheet due to the third transporting portion with another nip position of the sheet due to the second transporting portion.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including: a medium support tray capable of supporting a recording medium; a moving mechanism moving the medium support tray; a recording head capable of recording on the recording medium which is transported by moving the medium support tray; a protective member of the recording head; an instruction receiving section which receives an instruction of a maintenance start of the protective member; and a controller which controls the moving mechanism so as to retract the medium support tray from a set position in which the recording medium is set on the medium support tray when the instruction receiving section receives the instruction of the maintenance start.

Abstract: A liquid discharge device includes a platen, a head unit and an air blower. The platen is configured and arranged to support a medium. The head unit is configured and arranged to discharge liquid on the medium supported by the platen. The air blower is configured and arranged to send air toward the medium supported by the platen. The air blower is attached to the liquid discharge device such that the air sent by the air blower toward the medium flows in a direction at an angle to a normal line direction of the medium.

Abstract: A printer includes a light source module including an ejecting head that ejects a UV ink onto a medium. The UV ink hardens when irradiated with a UV light ray. The light source module includes an irradiator that irradiates the UV ink with the UV light ray. The printer may include a guide shaft to/from which the light module is attachable/detachable and a driving controller that performs control of the irradiator. The light source module includes, in addition to the irradiator, a memory module that stores therein information indicating a light irradiation feature of the irradiator. The driving controller performs control of the irradiator by using the information indicating a light irradiation feature of the irradiator.

Abstract: A tray mounting unit in which it is possible to replace a plurality of types of set trays; a detector capable of detecting the type of set tray mounted on the tray mounting unit in a state where the target textile printing material is set; a determining unit determining whether the type of set tray detected by the detector and the type of set tray recognized in advance are matched or mismatched; and a control unit performing a predetermined operation based on the determining result of the determining unit, are provided. Thus, inconsistencies in the type of set tray may be detected thereby preventing textile printing defects caused by such inconsistencies.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid ejection head that can reduce trouble in alignment of a print element substrate even in the case where a high magnification optical system is used and a method for fabricating the liquid ejection head. To achieve this, an auxiliary mark that indicates a relative position with respect to a reference mark is detected and recognized, and thus the position of the reference mark is identified even in the case where the reference mark is not reflected in a camera.

Abstract: A label printer can appropriately print an image and attribute information on a label. A label printer 1 has a printhead 26, and a control unit 60 that prints an image and attribute information for the image on a label 52 by the inkjet head 26. The label 52 is separated by a half-cut 55 into a first label part 56 and a second label part 57, and removably affixed to a continuous liner 51. The control unit 60 of the label printer 1 includes an image printing control unit 61 that prints an image on the first label part 56, and an attribute information printing control unit 62 that prints image attribute information on the second label part 57.

Abstract: The inkjet printing system includes a print information receiving unit that receives print information including work piece types, print images, and print conditions (S231), an image arrangement deciding unit that decides an image arrangement that is an arrangement of the print images on a pallet (S232 to S242), a work piece arrangement outputting unit that outputs a work piece arrangement that is an arrangement of work pieces according to the image arrangement (S243), and a print executing unit that executes printing on the work pieces on the pallet based on the print image, print conditions, and image arrangement, wherein the image arrangement deciding unit decides the image arrangement in a state where a plurality of print images with the common specific print conditions being predetermined conditions among the print conditions is aligned in a main scanning direction (S232, S233).

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a recording head that ejects liquid onto a recording medium, a transporting device that transports the recording medium along a supporting surface of a supporting member, and a preheating device that preheats the recording medium to the upstream side of the recording head in a transporting direction of the recording medium. The preheating device includes a preheating unit that increases the amount of heat per unit time which is applied to the recording medium as the recording medium is moved toward the downstream side in the transporting direction. The supporting member includes the supporting surface and bending portions.

Abstract: A sweep speed is determined for sweeping a printer head of a printer across a print medium for printing a swath of an image on the print medium. A distance by which to advance the print medium is at least partially determined in accordance with the determined sweep speed and the print medium is advanced by the determined distance.

Abstract: A control method for printing is provided which allows an image printed in an area including a unique portion on a continuous sheet to be identified as a defective image. In a case where a disabled area including the unique portion overlaps a part of a print area of an interest image being printed when the unique portion is detected, an identification mark for identifying the interest image is applied to the continuous sheet.

Abstract: A printer system has an information processing device and an inkjet printer. The image processing device has a first controller which generates margin information, and transmits the image data and the margin information to the inkjet printer. The inkjet printer has a second controller which obtains the image data and the margin information from the information processing device, causes the conveyor to convey the sheet until the sheet reaches a position where an area on which an image is to be printed firstly faces the printing head, causes the printing head to eject ink drops, and in response to the margin width being less than a threshold width, detect an actual position of the sheet after the cueing process is finished. The second controller causes the printing head to eject ink drops based on the actual position after the detecting process is executed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes: a housing having a sheet conveyance path having curved and extending portions; and a pivotable guide member at least partly defining the curved portion and pivotable. The guide member has a first guide portion and a second guide portion pivotably coupled to it. The first guide portion is pivotable between a first position for partly defining the curved portion and a second position where the curved portion is open. The second guide portion is movable between a third position where the second guide portion partly defines the curved portion with the first guide portion located at the first position and a fourth position where the second guide portion extends in a direction from an inner side to the outer side of the curved portion with the first guide portion located at the second position.

Abstract: A control method of a serial printer enables easily removing the printing paper when a paper jam occurs, and can prevent or suppress damage to the printhead when removing the printing paper. A serial printer 1 conveys printing paper P by a conveyance mechanism 22 including a second paper feed roller pair 31 located upstream from the print position A in the first conveyance direction M1. If a paper jam of the printing paper P is detected when the printhead 12 is at a position opposite the horizontal conveyance path portion 13c of the paper conveyance path 13, conveyance of the printing paper P first stops, and the printhead 12 is then moved on the vertical axis Z away from the horizontal conveyance path portion 13c. Next, the printhead 12 is moved on the transverse axis X to a away position 12AW outside the horizontal conveyance path portion 13c, and nipping of the printing paper P by the second paper feed roller pair 31 is then released.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods of directly determining the type of receiver media loaded in a thermal printer by measurements taken from the receiver media itself. In one embodiment, a tri-color emitter and detector combination work in conjunction to determine the intensity of light transmitted through the receiver media. The type of receiver media may be determined by the voltage response or transmission profile generated by the receiver in response to being illuminated by the tri-color emitter.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus can achieve both of highly reliable detection of a mark and suppression of a sheet consumption amount when a continuous sheet is cut on an image basis after a plurality of images has been printed on the continuous sheet. For this purpose, at the time of arranging a non-image area including a cut mark between two images to be successively printed, the length of the non-image area in a conveyance direction is set on the basis of the length of a precedently conveyed image in the conveyance direction and image data in a rear end part of the image.

Abstract: A discharge amount of ink is corrected so that thinning rates of a discharge amount of ink to be discharged to an end portion on an upstream side in a scanning direction are larger than thinning rates of a discharge amount of ink to be discharged to an end portion on a downstream side in the scanning direction.

Abstract: A method is provided that performs, based on a schedule, the printing of a plurality of images and the print head maintenance on the first face and the second face of a continuous sheet. The method includes: sensing a unique portion unsuitable for image printing that exists on the continuous sheet; and setting a printing schedule, when the unique portion is sensed in the first face or the second face, such that an image is prevented to be printed on the unique portion and a maintenance operation of the print head is performed at a region corresponding to the unique portion on the back face of the first or second face that has the unique portion.

Abstract: There is provided a printing control apparatus configured to cause a printing unit to print an image on a printing medium. In the printing control apparatus, the printed image has a size determined based on a candidate, which is acquired by a sensor detecting the size of the printing medium and is one of the candidates for a size of the printing medium, corresponding to a combination of a plurality of conditions for specifying the size of the printing medium.

Abstract: In the present invention, a part of the recording elements in accordance with a position of a print medium with respect to a printing head when printing is performed after the detection is performed among the plurality of recording elements arranged in a conveyance direction during conveyance of the print medium are used for printing if the width of the print medium is detected by the sensor. Then the image of printing target of the size in accordance with the width of the print medium is printed on the print medium.

Abstract: An inkjet printing process includes advancing a print medium so that it contacts a relatively high-contact area of a platen. After the print medium first contacts the relatively high-contact area, ink is deposited on a side of the medium not contacting the platen to form an image. The print medium continues to advance so that the image passes over a relatively low-contact area of the platen.

Abstract: The control unit of a printer feeds paper P from a paper supply path 12 to a main conveyance path, drives a paper feed roller pair, conveys the paper in a first direction through the main conveyance path, and prints on the first side of the paper. After printing on the first side ends, the conveyance direction changes from the first direction to the opposite second direction, and the medium is back-fed to a looped inverting conveyance path at a faster conveyance speed than the conveyance speed when printing. First and second conveyance rollers are then driven to convey the print medium at high speed through the inverting conveyance path, thereby inverting the front and back and returning the medium to the main conveyance path for printing the second side.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a feeding unit, a conveying unit, a printing unit, and a control unit. The control unit performs a successive feeding operation. An operating state of the feeding unit changes between a first operating state and a second operating state in which a feeding stop is more unstable than that in the first operating state, in a period from a start of feeding a printing medium until the printing medium reaches the conveying unit. In the successive feeding operation, a subsequent printing medium is fed without stopping until a leading end of the subsequent printing medium reaches a stoppable position. The stoppable position is arranged on an upstream side of the conveying unit. The subsequent printing medium can be stopped in the first operating state at the stoppable position.

Abstract: A target transporting device includes a pair of transport rollers that applies a transport force to a continuous-form sheet toward a downstream side from an upstream side while pinching the continuous-form sheet; a guide member that applies a tension force to the continuous-form sheet being pinched by the pair of transport rollers toward the upstream side in a transport direction of the continuous-form sheet; and an image capturing unit that is disposed at a location upstream of the pair of transport rollers on a transport path of the continuous-form sheet so as to detect a transport amount of the continuous-form sheet to which the tension force is being applied by the guide member without contact.

Abstract: When it is decided that the PE sensor installed upstream of the conveying roller has detected paper, the motor driving the recovery operation is stopped. This prevents paper jamming that may be caused by the reverse rotation of the motor during the recovery operation. That is, when print paper happens to remain on a conveying path for some reason, at a position where it can be driven simultaneously by both of the intermediate and the conveying rollers, the activation of the recovery operation, which is powered by the same motor that drives these rollers, can result in paper jamming because the recovery operation causes the conveying roller to rotate in a direction reverse to that of the intermediate roller. The paper jamming can, however, be prevented by stopping the conveying of the paper before it reaches a position where it is driven by the two rollers at the same time.

Abstract: Registering images during two sided printing is disclosed. An example is carried out by program code stored on non-transient computer-readable medium. The program code is executable by a processor for printing on a first side of a media a first plurality of plots and a plurality of associated fiducials along an edge of the media. The program code is executable by a processor for determining a distance from the edge of the media to at least one of the plurality of associated fiducials based on sensed input. The program code is executable by a processor for printing a second plurality of plots on a second side of the media based on the distance from the edge of the media so that the second plurality of plots is substantially in registration with the first plurality of plots.

Abstract: A recording apparatus in which a recording unit performs recording with respect to a medium which is wound in a roll shape, the apparatus including a medium support unit which rotatably supports the medium; a transport unit which transports the medium in a path while pulling out the medium which is supported; and a terminal end detection unit which detects a terminal end of the medium. The transport unit transports the medium to an outlet side to which the medium, which is recorded, is discharged, when the terminal end is detected, and a length of the medium is equal to or larger than a predetermined value. On the other hand, the transport unit transports the medium to the medium support unit side, when the terminal end is detected, and the length of the medium is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium by performing recording (N) times (N is an integer of 3 or more) in a same region on the recording medium, the image forming apparatus includes a recording data generation unit configured to generate recoding data corresponding to each of the recording and a halftone processing unit configured to convert the recording data into halftone image data by a dither method using a matrix of a dot dispersion type, wherein the halftone processing unit generates the halftone image data of the (k)th time in such a manner that dispersibility of a dot pattern is improved in which each of the halftone image data corresponding to recording performed up to (k)th (2?p?N?1) time is accumulated in the same region.

Abstract: When a printing conveyance speed at a printing unit is changed, if a length of a printing paper sheet in the conveyance direction thereof is smaller than an inter-unit conveyance distance, which is set in advance, between the printing unit and a post-processing unit, only a printing suspending operation at the printing unit is performed, and a post-processing suspending operation at the post-processing unit is not performed. On the other hand, if the length of the printing paper sheet in the conveyance direction thereof is equal to or greater than the inter-unit conveyance distance, both the printing suspending operation at the printing unit and the post-processing suspending operation at the post-processing unit are performed. In this manner, the post-processing suspending operation is omitted depending on the length of the printing paper sheet in the conveyance direction thereof.

Abstract: Techniques for ensuring maximum readability of barcodes displayed in pixel displays. The techniques use the characteristics of the pixel display to determine the form of the barcode in the pixel display. Determination of the form includes determining a size of the barcode which renders the barcode's elements easily readable by a barcode reader and a shape, and or orientation of the barcode in the display which permits the entire barcode to be displayed in the display. Additionally, in a barcode with redundant information, the amount of redundant information may be reduced in the displayed barcode. The techniques may be applied to both one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes.

Abstract: There is provided a line printer including: a nozzle that discharges liquid; a pressure chamber that communicates with the nozzle; a piezoelectric element that is provided to correspond to the pressure chamber and to discharge liquid; a pulse generation unit that generates a drive pulse to discharge liquid from the nozzle and an inspection pulse to inspect a liquid discharge state; and a residual vibration detection unit that detects residual vibration in the pressure chamber, which occurs after the inspection pulse is applied to the piezoelectric element. The drive pulse is caused to be applied to the piezoelectric element and the inspection pulse is caused not to be applied to the piezoelectric element at a first printing speed. The drive pulse and the inspection pulse are caused to be applied to the piezoelectric element at a second printing speed. The second printing speed is slower than the first printing speed.

Abstract: An image forming method and a combination of a thermal transfer sheet and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet are capable of forming images of high print quality. An image forming method wherein an image is formed by combining a thermal transfer sheet, which is obtained by forming a dye layer on one surface of a substrate and forming a back surface layer on the other surface of the substrate, and a thermal transfer image receiving sheet, which is obtained by forming a dye receiving layer on one surface of another substrate. The dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet contains a sublimable dye, a binder resin and one or both of (A) a polyether-modified silicone having a viscosity of not less than 1,000 mm2/s at 25° C. and (B) a polyester-modified polysiloxane. The dye receiving layer of the thermal transfer image receiving sheet is an aqueous dye receiving layer.