EP0564252A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Ink jet recording method and apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1993-03-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks of different colors are reciprocally moved relative to a recording medium, and printing operations are performed by executing main scans in forward and backward scans of the recording heads. In this case, an area printable in a single main scan is recorded by performing a plurality of main scans using a plurality of thinning patterns in which an m x n pixel group is defined as a unit pixel group, and the pixel groups are arranged at non-neighboring positions, and which have a complementary arrangement relationship therebetween. A high-quality color image free from time difference nonuniformity, and density nonuniformity caused by, e.g., variations of recording elements is obtained at high speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Miyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Matsubara
- 👤 Hiromitsu C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Hirabayashi
- 👤 Shigeyasu C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Nagoshi
- 👤 Noribumi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Koitabashi
- 👤 Hitoshi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Sugimoto
- 👤 Fumihiro C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Gotoh
- 👤 Masaya C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Uetuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:20
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J19/00; B41J19/14; B41J19/142; B41J19/147; B41J2/135; B41J2/145; B41J29/00; B41J29/38; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; G06K15/107; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/1911; H04N1/1913; H04N1/1915; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0002; G06K2215/0062; G06K2215/0071; G06K2215/0074; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094; H04N1/12; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/0402; H04N2201/0466; H04N2201/0468
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An ink jet recording method for recording an image on a recording medium by performing a main scan by moving recording means, which comprises a plurality of recording elements for ejecting an ink, in a direction different from an alignment direction of said plurality of recording elements, and by performing a sub-scan in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of the main scan by a predetermined amount, wherein all pixels on an area recordable in the single main scan of said recording means are divided according to a plurality of divisional thinning arrangements which have a complementary relationship therebetween, the area is recorded by sequentially recording the divided pixels in the area in a plurality of main scans, and each of the divisional thinning arrangements is defined by m × n (m and n are positive integers and at least one of them is not less than 2) pixel groups, each of which is defined as a unit pixel group, and which are arranged at non-neighboring positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said recording means comprises a plurality of recording heads for respectively ejecting inks of different colors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the divisional thinning arrangement used for a predetermined color of the plurality of colors is different from the divisional thinning arrangements used for other colors in the single main scan.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the area is recorded in main scans corresponding in number to recording colors, and the plurality of thinning arrangements are circulated for each color in different main scans.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the pixel group is a rectangular pixel group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the pixel group is a square pixel group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount is an amount corresponding to the number of pixels as a quotient obtained by dividing the number of recording elements by the number of main scans required for completing recording of the area.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
33 words
A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of said recording elements ejects an ink droplet by causing a change in state in the ink using heat energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
An ink jet recording method for recording a color image by executing record scans by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for ejecting inks of different colors are arranged, relative to a recording medium in an alignment direction of said plurality of recording element arrays, wherein images of the plurality of colors are recorded using said plurality of recording element arrays in a forward scan of the reciprocal record scans, and an image of a specific color is recorded using a specific one of said plurality of recording element arrays in a backward scan of the reciprocal record scans.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said recording medium is relatively moved by a width according to a record width after the backward record scan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein an image is completed by performing a plurality of record scans on a predetermined area, and thinning images are recorded in the record scans according to complementary thinning arrangements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein thinning images of the plurality of colors according to the thinning arrangements are recorded in the forward scan of the reciprocal record scans, and a thinning image of only the specific color is recorded in the backward scan of the reciprocal record scans.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said recording medium is relatively moved by a width according to a record width after the forward and backward record scans.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the record width is smaller than a width corresponding to the recording element array.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the specific color is black.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
35 words
A method according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the recording element generates heat energy, and causes a change in state in the ink by the heat energy, thereby ejecting the ink.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
182 words
A color ink jet recording method in which a plurality of recording heads, on each of which a plurality of ink ejection orifices are aligned, are aligned in units of colors in a direction different from the alignment direction of said plurality of ink ejection orifices, and which completes a print image on a recording medium by main scanning said recording heads in the alignment direction of said plurality of recording heads, and by performing a sub-scan by a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the main scan upon completion of the main scan, wherein a plurality of divisional thinning arrangements having a complementary relationship therebetween are selected in turn in a plurality of main scans for all pixels in an area printable in a single main scan of said recording heads, the area is printed by the plurality of main scans, and the divisional thinning arrangement selected in each main scan for at least one of a plurality of colors is different from the divisional thinning pattern selected for the remaining colors in the corresponding main scan.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein of the divisional thinning arrangements sequentially selected in the main scan, the divisional thinning arrangement selected for at least one of the plurality of colors is equal to the divisional thinning arrangements for the remaining colors, and is selected in a main scan different from a main scan for the remaining colors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein printing on the area is completed by sequentially selecting the divisional thinning arrangements having the complementary relationship therebetween and corresponding in number to ink colors in main scans corresponding in number to the ink colors, and the same divisional thinning arrangement is selected in different main scans for the respective ink colors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the divisional thinning arrangement corresponding to at least one of the plurality of colors has a thinning rate different from the thinning rate of the divisional thinning arrangements for the remaining colors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the main scans are performed in forward and backward scans of said recording heads.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein each of said recording heads ejects ink droplets from the ink ejection orifices by causing a change in state in the ink using heat energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 22, wherein the change in state is a change in state caused by film boiling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
141 words
An ink jet recording method wherein upon execution of a main scan of dot matrix recording by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for recording dot arrays using inks of different colors are arranged parallel to each other, relative to a recording medium in an arrangement direction of said plurality of recording element arrays, recording on a predetermined area is performed by a plurality of main scans, a plurality of thinning arrangements having a complementary relationship therebetween are selected in turn for the plurality of main scans, the dot matrix recording on the predetermined area is performed by recording dots fewer than all dots to be recorded in the predetermined area according to the selected thinning arrangement in each main scan, and different thinning arrangements are selected in units of colors in each main scan.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the dot matrix recording on the predetermined area is performed by selecting the plurality of thinning arrangements in different orders in units of colors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the thinning arrangements have different thinning rates in units of colors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the main scans are performed in forward and backward scans of said recording means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the predetermined area is an area recordable in the single main scan of said recording means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein a sub-scan is performed by relatively moving the recording medium in a direction different from the direction of the main scan by a width smaller than a width corresponding to said plurality of recording element arrays every time the main scan is ended.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein the recording element ejects an ink droplet by causing a change in state in the ink using heat energy.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 30, wherein the change in state is a change in state caused by film boiling.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
149 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording a color image by performing record scans by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for ejecting inks of different colors are arranged, relative to a recording medium, comprising: selection means for selecting one of a first recording mode for performing the record scan in one of forward and backward scans, and a second recording mode for performing the record scans in both the forward and backward scans; and control means for controlling the record scans on a predetermined area on said recording medium according to the recording mode selected by said selection means, wherein in the first and second recording modes, said control means divides the recording element arrays into a plurality of groups and performs a plurality of record scans using different groups on the predetermined area on said recording medium, thereby recording an image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein in the first recording mode, said control means divides said recording element arrays into m groups and performs m record scans on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the m groups; and in the second recording mode, said control means divides said recording element arrays into n (< m) groups and performs n record scans on the predetermined area on said recording medium using the n groups.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said selection means selects one of the first and second recording modes in response to an input operation according to a type of said recording medium.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein the recording element generates heat energy, and causes a change in state in the ink by the heat energy, thereby ejecting an ink droplet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ink jet recording apparatus for recording a color image by performing record scans by reciprocally moving recording means, on which a plurality of recording element arrays for ejecting inks of different colors are arranged, relative to a recording medium, comprising: selection means for selecting one of a first recording mode for performing the record scan in one of forward and backward scans, and a second recording mode for performing the record scans in both the forward and backward scans; and switching means for switching the recording mode from the second recording mode to the first recording mode on the basis of a predetermined condition during a recording operation in the second recording mode.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said selection means selects one of the first and second recording modes in response to an input operation for designating a specific color emphasis recording operation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said switching means switches the recording mode from the second recording mode to the first recording mode according to a temperature condition of said recording means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said switching means switches the recording mode from the second recording mode to the first recording mode when a temperature of said recording means exceeds a predetermined temperature.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein in the second recording mode, recording of a plurality of colors including a specific color is performed in one of the forward and backward scans, and recording of the specific color is performed in the other one of the forward and backward scans.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 36 to 40, wherein the recording element generates heat energy, and causes a change in state in the ink by the heat energy, thereby ejecting an ink droplet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
182 words
An ink jet recording method for executing recording by performing a main scan by moving a recording head, on which a plurality of recording elements for ejecting an ink are aligned, in a direction different from an alignment direction of said recording elements, and by performing a sub-scan by moving a recording medium relative to said recording head in a direction different from the direction of the main scan, wherein using k (k ≧ 3) different divisional record pixel arrangements in which divisional record pixel groups each consisting of m (m ≧ 2) pixels in the main scan direction of said recording head and n (n ≧ 1) pixels in the sub-scan direction are arranged to satisfy a complementary relationship between corresponding record scans, k record scans are performed on a single image area to complete an image on the image area, and all divisional record pixel groups recorded in a last (k-th) record scan on the image area are arranged adjacent to at least (k - 2) divisional record pixel groups recorded before the last record scan in a sub-scan direction.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 42, wherein an amount of the sub-scan is 1/2 a maximum record width of said recording head.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 42 or 43, wherein said recording head ejects ink droplets from ejection orifices by causing a change in state in the ink using heat energy.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
125 words
An ink jet recording method for completing a print image on a recording medium by scanning a recording head, on which a plurality of ink ejection elements are aligned, in a direction different from an alignment direction of said ink ejection elements, and by moving a recording medium relative to said recording head by a predetermined width in a direction different from the scan, wherein recording on a unit image area is completed by a plurality of record scans of said recording head, recording on an area of the unit image area other than a boundary area with respect to another unit image area is completed by a first record scan, and recording on the boundary area is completed by a subsequent second record scan.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 45, wherein a width of the boundary area is not more than half a width of the unit image area.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 45 or 46, wherein said recording head ejects ink droplets from ejection orifices by causing a change in state in the ink using heat energy.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
162 words
An ink jet recording method for completing a print image on a recording medium by scanning a recording head, on which a plurality of ink ejection elements are aligned, in a direction different from an alignment direction of said ink ejection elements, and by moving a recording medium relative to said recording head by a predetermined width in a direction different from the scan, wherein a record section of said recording head is divided into a plurality of record sections, an image on a single image area on said recording medium is sequentially completed by performing a plurality of record scans using said plurality of record sections, in at least the last record scan for the image area, a print duty to a pixel group in the image area, which pixel group is located at a boundary with respect to another completed image area is less than 100%, and is higher than a print duty for pixels in the entire image area.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 48, wherein said recording head ejects ink droplets from ejection orifices by causing a change in state in the ink using heat energy.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
100 words
An ink jet printer comprising a plurality of recording heads for ejecting inks of different colors arranged for reciprocal movement relative to a recording medium, in which printing operations are performed by executing main scans in forward and backward scans of the recording heads, wherein an area printable in a single main scan is recorded by performing a plurality of main scans using a plurality of thinning patterns in which an m x n pixel group is defined as a unit pixel group, and the pixel groups are arranged at non-neighboring positions, and which have a complementary arrangement relationship therebetween.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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