Abstract: In an ink jet apparatus for manufacturing a color filter 1, ink jet heads 22 having a plurality of nozzle 27 are disposed in a linear manner. Filter element member is ejected to a motherboard 12 from a plurality of nozzles 27 four times so as to form the filter element 3 in a predetermined thickness. By doing this, it is possible to prevent difference in the thickness in a plurality of the filter elements 3 and to equalize light transparency in planar manner. Thus, in an ejecting apparatus, a color filter can be formed in more common way at low cost and more efficiently. Also, it is possible to provide an ejecting apparatus which can equalize factors such as electrooptical characteristics of the electrooptical members, color displaying characteristics by the liquid crystal apparatuses, and illuminating characteristics by an EL surface.

Abstract: A recording system for recording a color image on a recording medium by utilizing a recording head, on which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, includes a compensation unit to compensate a position to be recorded by a recording element which does not execute a recording operation by color dots different from those of that recording element. The compensation unit is controlled such that the number of the compensation dots is less than the number of dots to be formed originally and that lightness per a determined area of an image obtained by the compensation dots is within a range of ±20% of that to be obtained by dots from the recording element which does not execute the recording operation. The recording system can minimize nonuniformity in the recorded image, can make the nonuniformity be unrecognized by human eyes and can suppress increased costs while increasing recording rates.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes a first ink-jet recording head which forms a first layer having first undulations in accordance with an image to be recorded, a second ink-jet recording head which performs image recording of the image to be recorded and a third ink-jet recording head which forms a second layer having second undulations that are also in accordance with the image to be recorded but larger than the first undulations of the first layer that is to be formed by the first ink-jet recording head.

Abstract: In a color printhead, print elements for different colors print swaths of pixels in different colors side by side in a first traverse; the printhead and the surface to be printed are indexed, and in the next traverse, further swaths are printed with each new swath overlapping a previous swath in a different color.

Abstract: The invention makes it possible to realize controlling of the density-gradation characteristics that is superior in that gray balance of tertiary color is taken into account as compared to conventional control of the density-gradation characteristics that uses only density sensor, in an individual color image forming apparatus. The density of an unfixed patch is detected before a fixing operation. The color of a fixed patch formed on a transferring material is also detected. Calibration tables for cyan, magenta, yellow and black for converting gradients in given image information into gradients matched with density-gradation characteristics of the color image forming apparatus are corrected based on results of the above-mentioned detections, thereby controlling density-gradation characteristics.

Abstract: Print data is generated for being printed by an ink-jet printing apparatus, which has a first mode for high-speed printing and a second mode for high-quality printing, for performing multiple-pass printing by an ink-jet printhead provided with orifices for discharging ink droplets of large volume and orifices for discharging ink droplets of small volume. When the print data is generated, a user is allowed to select whether specified image data should be printed in the first or second mode. When image data is converted to print data in accordance with the mode selected, the number of ink droplets of the small volume, which are used to print an area of high density or high saturation in regard to a prescribed color in the first mode, is set to be less than the number of ink droplets of the small volume used in printing this area in the second mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink ejection type printhead having a plurality of ink ejection devices and a central axis, the ink ejection devices arranged in a series of groups, each of the groups generally extending along non parallel lines.

Abstract: A printhead assembly include a carrier, a first plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier and adapted to print a first color, and a second plurality of printhead dies each mounted on the carrier and adapted to print a second color. Each of the first plurality of printhead dies are offset from and partially overlap an adjacent one of the first plurality of printhead dies, and each of the second plurality of printhead dies are offset from and partially overlap an adjacent one of the second plurality of printhead dies.

Abstract: For a horizontally arranged print head, in which nozzle rows are arranged parallel with a scanning direction of the print head, two of a plurality of ink colors used, which have the greatest hue difference, are selected. Between the nozzle rows for these two colors, at least two nozzle rows for other colors are arranged so that the nozzle rows for the two colors have a large inter-nozzle-row distance. The resulting print head is used for printing. If cyan, light cyan, magenta, light magenta, yellow, and black are used as ink colors, the light cyan, black, yellow, and light magenta inks are arranged between the cyan and magenta inks, having a great hue difference.

Abstract: A two-color print generating apparatus generates two-color print data based on color-converted image data in which the color of each pixel of full-color bit depth in an image is converted to a print color comprising a background color, a main color, or a secondary color. A color-reduced image data generator converts full-color image data to image data reduced to a specific number of colors. A color conversion unit generates color-converted image data in which the specified colors of the reduced-color image data are converted to colors that can be printed by the printer. A print data conversion unit converts the color converted color-converted image data to two-color print data. A color conversion selection unit sets the color conversion method and sets specific color conversion parameters based on the selected color conversion method. The processing of the invention can also be embodied as a method and/or specified as program instructions.

Abstract: A printing device includes a sheet feeding mechanism that feeds the recording sheet by a predetermined amount at a time, a carriage that is movable, substantially at a constant speed, in a direction substantially perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction, and a print head mounted on the carriage. The print head is capable of simultaneously forming a plurality of print lines when the carriage moves. The print head is controlled to print a first print pattern that is formed by part of the plurality of print lines on an upstream side. The recording sheet is fed by the predetermined amount after the first pattern is formed. Thereafter, a second print pattern that is formed by part of the plurality of print lines on a downstream side after the recording sheet is fed. At least a part of the first print pattern overlaps a part of the second print pattern.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead is provided. The printhead comprises a printhead substrate including a plurality of thin film layers and at least three side by side columnar arrays of drop generators extending along a longitudinal extent. Each columnar array of drop generators provides ink drops of a different color and has at least 96 drop generators. Each columnar array of drop generators is separated from each other by at most 1060 micrometers. The printhead substrate also includes at least three columnar arrays of transistor drive circuits formed in the printhead substrate respectively adjacent the columnar arrays of drop generators for energizing the columnar arrays of drop generators.

Abstract: Controlling ejection of ink drops with a less number of temperature sensors than the number of print heads. The present invention is an printing apparatus for printing by ejecting ink drops onto a print medium. The printing apparatus comprises N print heads, M temperature sensors, and an ejection controller. M temperature sensors are allocated in the printing apparatus. An ejection controller is configured to control the ejection of he ink drops from at least part of the N print heads in response to an output of the M temperature sensors. The integer M is smaller than the integer N.

Abstract: An inkjet printhead heater chip has an ink via asymmetrically arranged in a reciprocating direction of inkjet printhead movement. The ink via has two sides and a longitudinal extent substantially parallel to a print medium advance direction. A column of fluid firing elements exists exclusively along a single side of the two sides. The heater chip and ink via each have a centroid and neither resides coincidentally with one another. Preferably, the heater chip centroid resides externally to a boundary of the ink via. In other aspects, the column of fluid firing elements can be a sole column or plural and may be centered in the reciprocating direction. The ink via can be a sole via or plural. The heater chip can be rectangular and the ink vias can be closer to either the long or short ends thereof. Inkjet printers for housing the printheads are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink jet head is provided with a plurality of nozzle arrays formed by many numbers of ink nozzles for discharging large-amount ink droplets and small-amount ink droplets. Although the ink jet head generates heat more on the middle portion thereof, it is cooled by discharges of ink droplets. The degree of cooling is greater by the large-amount ink droplets to be discharged. Thus, on the first column in the main scan direction, the small-amount nozzle array is positioned, and on the second column, the large-amount nozzle array is positioned. In this way, it is made possible to balance the temperature distributions in the main scan direction. As a result, color images can be formed in high quality.

Abstract: When multilevel printing is performed by using a plurality of types of inks, which present different densities for similar colors when used for printing, and changing the types of inks and the numbers of ink droplets in printing each pixel, an ink distribution table which defines a combination of the types of inks and the numbers of ink droplets in correspondence with each gray level value is generated on the basis of input information associated with the relative densities of the respective inks. A combination to be used to print each pixel is selected on the basis of the ink distribution table, thereby printing a good grayscale image free from gray-level reversal and the like.

Abstract: A printer head chip includes a plurality of ink compressing chambers which include heat-generating resistors and which are disposed side by side on a substrate. The printer head chip is used to discharge ink inside the plurality of ink compressing chambers from a nozzle by driving the heat-generating resistors. The printer head chip further includes an ink flow path groove, which is formed in the substrate and which is connected to each of the ink compressing chambers, for supplying ink to each of the ink compressing chambers. The invention makes it possible to supply ink to the printer head chip without increasing the size of a printer head, and to simplify the structure of the printer head.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the granularity of the dots for the entire density range by optimally setting formation amounts of a low-density dot and of a high-density dot per unit area. For this purpose, the formation amounts of the low-density dot and of the high-density dot in accordance with the density level are determined in such a way that as the density level rises, the formation amount of the low-density dot is gradually increased up to a first peak amount (200%) and, after reaching the first peak, gradually decreased, and in a range of density levels higher than a predetermined density level at which the low-density dot is formed to a specified amount (200%), as the density level rises, the formation amount of the high-density dot is gradually increased up to a second peak amount (100%) smaller than the first peak amount.

Abstract: Each nozzle array on a print head 28b has a plurality of nozzles arranged along sub-scanning direction for discharging a same ink, and at least a pair of nozzle arrays that discharge different inks (a leading nozzle array FN and a trailing nozzle array RN) are arranged in a staggered manner. In an interlace recording using this print head 28b, a reference is made to a printing data memory prior to a main scan pass, for a printing data of a plurality of main scan lines that correspond to an overall width in the sub-scanning direction of the staggered nozzle array pair. A single main scan pass is then performed according to the referenced printing data.

Abstract: A color printing method and apparatus include a printer printing a color image on a recording paper using color inks contained in a color cartridge includes detecting a residual amount of each of the color inks. The residual amount of each of the color inks is compared with a predetermined standard residual amount. The color image is printed using the at least one of the color inks having the residual amount greater than the predetermined standard residual amount.

Abstract: A swath printing system and under/overprinting method compensate for the effects of defective printing elements by adjusting the under/overprinting map used during printing regions of a uniform color, typically black, to minimize the adverse impact on print quality of unprinted “white space” caused by the defective printing elements. A printing element quality detector determines which printing elements are functional and which are defective. Based on this information, a print controller then selects or constructs an under/overprinting map having under/overprinting pixel positions chosen to reduce these adverse effects on print quality caused by the defective printing elements, thus maintaining high image quality for the printed output.

Abstract: A printing cartridge is releasably engageable with a printing device having a linear reader for reading a barcode and a central processor capable of interpreting data carried on a barcode. The printing cartridge includes a housing. Media and media colorant supply arrangements are positioned within the housing and contain a supply of media and a supply of media colorant, respectively. Feed mechanisms are positioned in the housing for feeding the media and the media colorant to a printing mechanism. A barcode is depicted on the housing, the barcode being readable by the linear reader and defining a code representing data relating to the media and the media colorant.

Abstract: A method of adjusting process black and a driver thereof. The method includes converting a part of process black data into mono black data. Accordingly, a user can arbitrarily adjust a ratio of process black to obtain a more natural output image and print the output image in process black and mono black, thereby reducing the consumption of ink or a colorant contained in process black.

Abstract: A printer includes a print engine and a monochrome formatter connected to the print engine and being operatively connectable to a color chip. A monochrome print engine and a monochrome formatter provide a monochrome printer. A color print engine and a monochrome formatter operatively connected to a color chip provide a color printer.

Abstract: A conversion relationship associated with generation of data for a plurality of inks which have the same color but different concentrations is determined. For combinations of four colors, data on patches are generated which can be printed without causing ink to overflow. Then, with reference to a maximum color material use amount, a possible total color material use amount is calculated for each combination of six dark and light colors Y, M, C, K, Lm, and Lc. Then, for each combination, M and C are each separated into dark and light colors in accordance with the possible total color material use amount. Thus, a color separation table is generated which corresponds to combinations of six colors Y, M, C, K, Lm, and Lc.

Abstract: Two sets of recording heads for applying ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are arranged in symmetry in a scanning direction and orders of colors C and M ejected onto a pixel of a secondary color are set to symmetric orders (C?M and M?C). This makes the application orders of ink symmetric in each pixel of secondary color and thus there is no difference between application orders in formation of the pixel by either forward or backward scanning, whereby occurrence of uneven color due to the application orders of ink can be reduced even in execution of two-way color print.

Abstract: A multicolor ink jet printing method which includes the steps of moving a carriage is moved relative to a recording medium in a main scanning direction and a subscanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, printing each color with a different group of nozzle heads mounted on the carriage, wherein at least one color is printed with a larger number of nozzle heads than the other colors, and printing the at least one color with a larger printing resolution in the main scanning direction than the other colors.

Abstract: Ramps are printed with ink of a particular color, and also nominally in that color but by inks of other colors. A measured actual-ink ramp is a standard to fix the other-colors ramp, and correct other printing in those colors. In one aspect a particular color is gray, actual ink black (K), and other-color inks magenta (M), yellow (Y) and cyan (C). In another aspect, actual ink is red (R), green (G) or blue (B); other colors M, Y and C in respective pairs. For gray/black, the K ramp is a zero-chroma standard to lower composite-black (cK) chroma below ˜2.5 ?E. A sampling aspect prints for each gray tone plural cK-ink combinations preferably bracketing nominal gray values; and searches these for one nearest the particular gray—or most closely bracketing it, for interpolation—for best match. Bracketing is best optimized, by a color-space pattern centered on nominal. Other aspects are taught.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet printing head, and an ink-jet printing apparatus and method which enable high-gradation and high-quality images to be printed using dots of different sizes. In an ink-jet printing head according to the present invention, at least one second nozzle has its center arranged on an imaginary line extending in a main-scanning direction of the printing head through the center of a first nozzle. The volume of an ink droplet ejected through the second nozzle is smaller than that of an ink droplet ejected through the first nozzle. Further, the number of second nozzles is larger than that of first nozzles.

Abstract: A first region is defined on the head face so as to include a first group of nozzles among all nozzles formed with a recording head. A first amount is defined as a difference between a first reference position at which a leading edge of a recording medium situated at a recording start position is placed and a first shifted position at which the leading edge of the recording medium, which has been most shifted in a subscanning directions and most inclined within a feeding tolerance of a feeder, is placed. A first virtual leading edge is defined at a position where is shifted from the first reference position to a downstream side of the subscanning directions by the first amount. A second virtual leading edge at a position where is shifted from the first reference position to an upstream side of the subscanning directions by the first amount.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, which forms a color image by applying different color inks to a printing material while bi-directionally moving the recording head to scan the recording material, includes a changing unit for changing an order of applications of the inks of different colors to be applied at least at one amount for printing a secondary color to a secondary color pixel area; and a forming unit for forming the secondary color while making the order of applications of the inks to at least one of a plurality of the secondary color pixel areas arranged along a predetermined direction different from the order of another, by the changing unit.

Abstract: An inkjet printer capable of inhibiting color tone change on a recording-finished image with an easy structure. The inkjet printer has: a plurality of recording heads for jetting ink having different colors from each other, wherein an image is recorded by moving the plurality of the recording heads over a recording medium conveyed along a conveyance direction, along a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction; each recording head has a plurality of nozzles for jetting the ink as minute liquid drops; the plurality of nozzles are arrayed at intervals of predetermined number of pixels along the conveyance direction in each recording head; and each nozzle of one recording head is arranged at a position shifted from each nozzle of the other recording head along the conveyance direction so as to dispose each nozzle of the one recording head within the interval between the nozzles of the other recording head.

Abstract: A substrate (10; 110; 210; 310) for an ink jet printhead comprising: at least three slots (12a, 12b, 12c) of elongated shape, oriented parallel to one another lengthwise in a vertical direction (13); three corresponding actuating banks (16a, 16b, 16c); a plurality of drive circuits (18); and a plurality of terminals (21, 21a, 21b), lesser in number than the ejection actuators (16), connected to the drive circuits (18) for receiving external signals, wherein at least two (12a, 12b) of the three slots are arranged side by side along the respective long edges in an upper portion (10a) of the substrate, and the third slot (12c) is arranged in a lower portion (10b) of the substrate, and wherein moreover the terminals (21) connected to the drive circuits are arranged in a line along the edges (11a, 11b) of the substrate (10) parallel to the slots and therefore to this given vertical direction (13). This substrate has a robust structure and is less likely to crack in the zone of the slots.

Abstract: A pagewidth inkjet printhead includes a substrate that defines a plurality of ink inlet passages and incorporates drive circuitry. A plurality of substantially identical nozzle arrangements is positioned on the substrate. Each nozzle arrangement is generally elongate with an ink ejection port in fluid communication with an ink inlet channel at one end. The nozzle arrangements form an array on the substrate, the array being defined by replicating one nozzle arrangement on a grid according to a replication hierarchy that includes an initial acute angle rotation relative to a print media feed direction.

Abstract: A total-ink method ensures that the total amount of available colors remains the same such that the color characterization process can treat the restricted printing process as if it is dealing with a non-restricted printing process without loss of quality. This method enhances non-lossless, black generation methods traditionally used for total-ink restriction by generating compensated target device contone image data in which colorant applied to the media is limited based on a total ink constraint by providing a one-to-one mapping between each possible input contone image data value and each possible compensated target device contone image data value, using a bijective function, for example.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing color inkjet images includes an image processing unit which processes source color data to generate output color data together with a signal indicative of an order of ink squirts in which a plurality of inks of respective colors are squirted onto a given pixel, and an inkjet print unit which is configured to squirt the plurality of inks in different orders of ink squirts, and prints color images based on the output color data by squirting the inks in the order of ink squirts indicated by the signal.

Abstract: A printhead for an ink jet printer includes an array of print chips abutting end-to-end. The adjoining edge portions of the print chips include a zig-zag formation to ensure a proper positional alignment and spacing of the nozzles on one chip with those of the adjacent chip.

Abstract: A method for printing includes estimating ink usage for printing with a first color scheme and a second color scheme, and selecting between the first color scheme and the second color scheme for printing according to the estimating of the ink usage. An apparatus includes a first sensor to measure a level of a first ink, a second sensor to measure a level of a second ink, and a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to estimate usage of the first ink and the second ink using a first color scheme and a second color scheme and configured to select the first color scheme or the second color scheme for use in printing according to the estimate of the usage of the first ink and the second ink.

Abstract: Since the large amount nozzle arrays are disposed at first columns and the small amount nozzle arrays are disposed at second columns on both sides of the shifting directions along the main scan direction, the deflection of the ink droplet caused by the first air flows is totally reduced.

Abstract: A printhead includes a substrate having a plurality of fluid heating elements and at least one peripheral edge. Fluid channels deliver fluid to the plurality of fluid heating elements. The plurality of fluid channels includes at least one edgefeed fluid channel defined by the at least one peripheral edge, and at least one slot feed fluid channel.

Abstract: A laminated ink distribution structure for a printhead has a number of layers adhered to one another with each layer including a number of holes formed therethrough. Each ink hole has communicating therewith a channel formed in one side of the layer and allowing passage of ink to a transversely located position upon the layer, the transversely located position aligning with a slot formed through an adjacent layer of the laminate. The laminated ink distribution structure is fixed to a distribution housing via which different inks are conveyed from an ink cassette. The laminated structure distributes the different inks to an array of print chips of a color printer.

Abstract: A printer head chip includes a plurality of ink compressing chambers which include heat-generating resistors and which are disposed side by side on a substrate. The printer head chip is used to discharge ink inside the plurality of ink compressing chambers from a nozzle by driving the heat-generating resistors. The printer head chip further includes an ink flow path groove, which is formed in the substrate and which is connected to each of the ink compressing chambers, for supplying ink to each of the ink compressing chambers. The invention makes it possible to supply ink to the printer head chip without increasing the size of a printer head, and to simplify the structure of the printer head.

Abstract: A drop emitting device including a first linear array of columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and a second linear array of columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs, wherein the first linear array and the second linear array extend along an X-axis, and wherein the second linear array is adjacent the first linear array such that each first nozzle pair has an associated second nozzle pair displaced therefrom along a Y-axis that is orthogonal to the X-axis. The columnar arrays of first nozzle pairs and the columnar arrays of second nozzle pairs extend obliquely to the X-axis.

Abstract: To drive an inkjet printhead having an array of printing elements, where the first and second printing elements which discharge relatively different amounts of ink are arranged on the same array in a predetermined direction, print data for the first or second printing element is serially inputted, the inputted print data is sequentially stored, the stored print data is latched, a selection signal indicative of which of the first or second printing element is to be driven is inputted, a driving signal indicative of a driving period is inputted, and respective printing elements are driven in accordance with the latched print data, the selection signal, and the driving signal. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the cost of the printhead having plural types of printing elements, which discharge relatively different amounts of ink, and possible to easily control driving of the printhead.

Abstract: A liquid ejection recording head for effecting recording by ejecting first liquid and second liquid which is a different kind of liquid through different ejection outlets, while bi-directionally scanning a recording material in a scanning direction includes a group of first ejection outlet arrays each of which has a plurality of ejection outlets at predetermined intervals arranged in a direction different from the scanning direction, wherein corresponding ejection outlets in the respective ejection arrays are aligned in the scanning direction; a group, disposed adjacent the group of the first ejection outlet arrays, of second ejection outlet arrays arranged in a manner similar to the first ejection outlet array group; wherein the first ejection outlet arrays include a first ejection outlet array for ejecting the first liquid and a second ejection outlet array for ejecting the second liquid; wherein the second ejection outlet arrays include a third ejection outlet array for ejecting the first liquid and a four

Abstract: A printing method comprises: ejecting ink from ink ejecting sections provided in/on a movable print head to form dots; performing at least either printing with a first arrangement using inks arranged according to the first arrangement or printing with a second arrangement using inks arranged according to the second arrangement by changing the arrangement of inks supplied to each of the ink ejecting sections; and printing, with one forward and return movement of the print head, a correction pattern for determining a correction amount to be used for printing with the first arrangement and a correction amount to be used for printing with the second arrangement for correcting a misalignment between a position where dots are formed during a forward pass of the print head and a position where dots are formed during a return pass of the print head that occurs during printing with the first and second arrangements.

Abstract: Printing on an area of a printing medium in which printing locations may be significantly deviated due to inaccurate feeding of the printing medium can be performed, without degrading image quality. Specifically, when lines in this area (second area) are printed using four scanning operations (passes) of a print head, a duty in masking process is set at zero for the scanning operation (pass A) after a change-line operation for feeding the printing medium with a possible large shift feeding error, and is distributed to other scanning operations. Thus, no dots are formed during this scanning operation (pass A), thereby preventing significantly deviated dots from being formed.

Abstract: An ink set composition, an apparatus, and a method of providing an image on a receiver are provided. The method includes operating a printhead having a first segment that applies a gloss matching fluid to the non-imaged area of the printed area of the image and a second segment that applies an ink set having at least one color to the imaged area of the printed area of the image, wherein the ink set has a predetermined minimum gloss value (GVmin) and a maximum gloss value (GVmax), and the gloss matching fluid has a predetermined gloss value (GVGMF), wherein the predetermined gloss value GVGMF satisfying the following condition: 0.1 GVmin?GVGMF ?1.5 GVmax, wherein GVmin and GVmaxare predetermined gloss values calculated according to the following equations: GVmin=MIN(GV1, GV2, . . . , GVi, . . . , GVn) GVmax=MAX(GV1, GV2, . . . , GVi, . . . , GVn) where, i is a variable which identifies a certain color patch used in the evaluation, and n is the total number of color patches used in the evaluation.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printer and a print cartridge. The printer includes a carriage configured to move across the medium. The print cartridge is releasably coupled to the carriage and includes a first printhead and at least three achromatic inks. The at least three achromatic inks have distinct L* values and are contained within at least three chambers in communication with the printhead.

Abstract: A recording system can take the form of a recording apparatus, a recording method or a program to control the recording apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium by utilizing a recording head on which a plurality of recording elements are arranged. The recording system uses a plurality of compensation methods to compensate a position to be recorded by a recording element which does not execute a recording operation among the plurality of recording elements and selects an appropriate compensation method. Such recording system can resolve nonuniformity in the recorded image such as white streaks and the like generated by non-eject dots and can make the nonuniformity be unrecognized by the human eye. In addition, the recording system can suppress increase in costs of the recording head and can significantly increase recording rates.