EP0600735A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image output apparatus, image output method, ink jet print method and printed product obtained with said method
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1993-12-02
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2013-12-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for performing the printing by scanning a carriage having a plurality of print heads mounted in a predetermined direction relative to the printing medium, so that an image is formed to have a desired color tone and density without decreased throughput. Conversion data for reproducing the color tone and the scan range of the carriage are changed in accordance with the used heads among the mounted heads. Also, the replaceability can be enhanced and the longer life for each group is attained by grouping the heads mounted. Further, the scan range of recording and the scan range for the recovery can be changed by selecting the group for use in accordance with the recording mode. Also, in an ink jet printing apparatus having a longer print length, a printing method for effecting the stable recording is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuyoshi Takahashi
- 👤 Shoji Koike
- 👤 Takashi Watanabe
- 👤 Hiroshi Endo
- 👤 Toshiyuki Yanaka
- 👤 Masatoshi Ikkatai
- 👤 Yasushi Miura
- 👤 Yasuyuki Takanaka
- 👤 Eiichi Takagi
- 👤 Yoshiko Miyashita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:26
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J3/00; B41J3/54; B41J3/543; B41J19/00; B41J19/18; B41J19/20; B41J19/202; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; B41J2/045; B41J2/04501; B41J2/04571; B41J2/0458; B41J2/17; B41J2/175; B41J2/17503; B41J2/17543; B41J2/17546; B41J2/21; B41J2/2107; B41J29/00; B41J29/377; B41J3/407; B41J3/4078; D; D06; D06P; D06P5/00; D06P5/30; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/54; B41J2/04536; B41J2/17593; B41J29/17; D06B; D06B11/00; D06B11/0056; D06B11/0059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 82
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An image output apparatus, comprising: a plurality of print heads for effecting the printing of corresponding colors on the printing medium; a carriage on which said plurality of print heads are mountable; scanning means for scanning said carriage relative to the printing medium to form an image by means of said plurality of print heads; and scan range changing means for changing the scan range by said scanning means in accordance with a print head for use in forming the image among said plurality of print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: storage means for storing conversion data for representing print colors, provided respectively corresponding to said plurality of print heads; and conversion data changing means for changing said conversion data stored in said storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said conversion data changing means changes said conversion data stored in said storage means in accordance with print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said conversion data changing means changes said conversion data stored in said storage means in accordance with print colors corresponding to the plurality of print heads mounted on said carriage and/or the number of print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said scan range changing means and/or said conversion data changing means change said scan range and/or said conversion data in accordance with print colors corresponding to the plurality of print heads mounted on said carriage, the number of print heads mounted on said carriage, and the positions of print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising head detecting means for detecting print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said head detecting means detects the presence or absence of print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said head detecting means detects the presence or absence of print heads mounted on said carriage and print colors corresponding to print heads mounted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said scan range changing means and/or said conversion data changing means change said scan range and/or said conversion data in accordance with print colors corresponding to the plurality of print heads mounted on said carriage, the number of print heads mounted on said carriage, and the positions of print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said print heads form an image on the print medium by discharging the ink onto said print medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: recovery means for maintaining the discharge condition of said ink excellent, print heads mounted on said carriage being movable to a position opposite said recovery means in the scan range of said carriage by said scanning means; wherein said scan range changing means changes the scan range of said carriage for said recovery means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said print head has a plurality of discharge means for discharging the ink, said plurality of discharge means discharging the ink in accordance with corresponding drive signals applied respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of discharge means contained in said print head can discharge the ink by the application of drive signals of 5x10³ times or more during one scan of said carriage by said scanning means in a predetermined direction, and the ink contains a dye from 2 wt% to 30 wt% of all the ink, the viscosity of the ink being from 1.5 cp to 4 cp, and the surface tension of the ink being from 35 dyn/cm to 65 dyn/cm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the viscosity of the ink is from 2.0 cp to 3.8 cp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the surface tension of the ink is from 35 dyn/cm to 60 dyn/cm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said drive signals are of pulse shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said carriage can be mounted with a plurality of standard color print heads for printing in standard colors and a plurality of specializing color print heads for printing in specializing colors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said standard colors are four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said carriage can be mounted with four print heads for specializing colors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said specializing color print heads can print in any one of said standard colors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of standard color print heads and said plurality of specializing color print heads are mounted on said carriage so that standard color print and specializing color print may not be alternately made.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of print heads are mounted so that the printing order of corresponding colors may not be altered.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said carriage can be mounted with a plurality of print heads corresponding to predetermined print colors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said plurality of print heads corresponding to said predetermined print colors are mounted one next to the other on said carriage.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print medium used is the cloths.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image output method for forming an image on the printing medium while scanning a carriage having a plurality of print heads mounted relative to the printing medium, comprising: a head detecting step for detecting a print head mounted on said carriage; and a scan range changing step for changing said scan range in accordance with the print head mounted on said carriage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image output method according to claim 26, further comprising said plurality of heads for printing in corresponding colors, wherein said head detecting step includes detecting print colors corresponding to print heads mounted on said carriage, the number of print heads mounted on said carriage, and the positions of print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image output method according to claim 27, further comprising a conversion data changing step for changing conversion data for representing color tones corresponding to print colors in accordance with a detection of said head detecting step.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
An image output method according to claim 26, wherein said print heads form an image on the printing medium by discharging the ink.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image output method according to claim 29, wherein said print head is characterized by discharging the ink by causing a state change in the ink due to the heat and utilizing a pressure based on said state change.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
86 words
An image output method according to claim 29, wherein at least one of print heads mounted on said carriage can discharge the ink as many as 5x10³ times during one scan in which said carriage scans relatively over the printing medium in a predetermined direction, said ink containing a dye from 2 wt% to 30 wt% of all the ink, the viscosity of said ink being from 1.5 cp to 4 cp, and the surface tension of said ink being from 35 dyn/cm to 65 dyn/cm.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image output method according to claim 31, wherein the viscosity of said ink is from 2.0 cp to 3.8 cp.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image output method according to claim 31, wherein the surface tension of said ink is from 35 dyn/cm to 60 dyn/cm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
77 words
An image output method according to claim 29, further comprising: a recovery step for performing a recovery processing for maintaining the discharge condition of said ink excellent at a position opposite which the print heads mounted on said carriage can be placed in the scan range of said carriage; and a recovery position changing step for changing the scan range of said carriage in said recovery step in accordance with the print heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image output method according to claim 29, characterized by further comprising a process for fixing the ink onto said printing medium upon making a printing by discharging the ink into said printing medium.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image output method according to claim 35, wherein said fixing process includes drying the ink discharged onto said printing medium due to the heat.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image output method according to claim 35, characterized by further comprising a process of washing the printing medium after the printing after said process of fixing said ink.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
An image output method according to claim 29, further comprising a pretreatment process of containing a pretreatment agent in said printing medium before the printing by discharging the ink from said print heads.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image output method according to claim 29, wherein said printing medium is the cloths.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
Printed products printed by the image forming method according to claim 29.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
10 words
Products obtained by processing printed products according to claim 40.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
Products according to claim 41, wherein said printed products are cut out in desired size, cut pieces being subjected to a process for obtaining said products.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
Products according to claim 42, wherein said printing medium is the cloths, and said process for obtaining said products is stitching.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
10 words
Products according to claim 43, wherein said products are clothings.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
116 words
An ink jet printing method in which a recording head discharges the ink onto the printing medium by the use of the heat energy generated by heat generating elements of the recording head by the application of a drive signal, characterized in that said recording head scans relatively across the printing medium, and at least one of nozzles contained in said recording head discharges the ink by the application of drive signals of 10⁴ times or more during one scan, and said ink contains a dye from 3.1 wt% to 30 wt% of all the ink, the viscosity being from 1.5 cp to 4 cp, and the surface tension being from 35 dyn/cm to 65 dyn/cm.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ink jet printing method according to claim 45, wherein said ink is at least black, magenta, cyan and yellow.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ink jet printing method according to claim 45, wherein the viscosity of the ink is from 2.0 cp to 3.8 cp.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ink jet printing method according to claim 45, wherein the surface tension of the ink is from 35 dyn/cm to 62 dyn/cm.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink jet printing method according to claim 45, wherein said drive signals are of pulse shape.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ink jet printing method according to claim 45, wherein said printing medium is the cloths.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink jet printing method according to claim 45, wherein said ink jet printing method is practiced industrially.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
25 words
A coloring method characterized in that said printing medium is subjected to a pretreatment, and then an ink jet printing method according to claim 45.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
32 words
A coloring method characterized in that an ink jet printing method according to claim 45 is practiced, and said printing medium having said ink attached is subjected to washing after heat treatment.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
48 words
A coloring method characterized by comprising a process of pretreating said printing medium, a process of practicing an ink jet printing method according to claim 45 on said printing medium, and a process of subjecting said printing medium having the ink attached to washing after the heat treatment.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
11 words
Colored matters colored by a coloring method according to claim 8.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
11 words
Products obtained by further processing colored matters according to claim 55.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
30 words
Products according to claim 56, wherein said products are obtained by cutting out said cloths in desired size, cut pieces being subjected to a process for obtaining said final products.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
15 words
Products according to claim 57, wherein said process for obtaining said final products is stitching.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
125 words
An ink jet printing apparatus for performing the printing by using a recording head for discharging the ink by the use of the heat energy generated by heat generating elements by the application of a drive signal, characterized in that said recording head scans relatively across the printing medium, wherein at least one of nozzles contained in said recording head has means for controlling the driving of said recording head to discharge the ink by the application of drive signals of 10⁴ times or more during one scan, and wherein said ink contains a dye from 3.1 wt% to 30 wt% of all the ink, the viscosity being from 1.5 cp to 4 cp, and the surface tension being from 35 dyn/cm to 65 dyn/cm.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
151 words
An ink jet recording apparatus, using a plurality of recording heads for forming an image on the recording medium by discharging the ink, for forming the image consisting of a number of dots of the ink on the recording medium in such a way as to cause said recording heads to face said recording medium and scan in a main scan direction relative to said recording medium, comprising: head mounting means for mounting the plurality of said recording heads; selecting means for selecting recording heads to be used for the recording in accordance with a recording mode from among said plurality of recording heads mounted on said head mounting means; and operation control means for effecting a desired operation only for the recording heads selected by said selecting means; wherein said recording heads selected are arranged along the main scan direction on said head mounting means consecutively for each recording mode.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said operation control means changes the variable range of relative position in said main scan direction in accordance with said selected recording heads.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
41 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 60, further comprising cleaning means for scraping and cleaning the discharge orifice faces of said recording heads, said operation control means bringing said cleaning means into contact with only said selected recording heads.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
16 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said recording medium is the cloths.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said recording medium is the woven fabrics.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 60 to 64, wherein said recording head is an ink jet recording head for discharging the ink by the use of the heat energy, and having heat energy converters for generating the heat energy applied to the ink.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said recording head causes a state change in the ink due to the heat energy applied by said heat energy converters to discharge the ink through discharge orifices based on said state change.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
108 words
An ink jet recording method, using a plurality of recording heads for forming an image on the recording medium by discharging the ink, said recording heads being placed opposite said recording medium and scanned in a main scan direction to form the image on said recording medium, characterized by comprising: arranging said plurality of recording heads along the main scan direction consecutively for each recording mode; and selecting recording heads to be used for the recording in accordance with a recording mode from among said plurality of recording heads in forming the image on said recording medium, and effecting a desired operation only for said recording heads selected.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ink jet recording method according to claim 67, comprising changing the variable range of relative position in said main scan direction in accordance with said selected recording heads.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ink jet recording method according to claim 67 or 68, further comprising cleaning means capable of making contact with the discharge orifice faces of said recording heads, said cleaning means scraping and cleaning only said recording heads selected.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
21 words
An ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 67 to 69, wherein said recording medium is the cloths.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ink jet recording method according to claim 70, wherein said recording medium is the woven fabrics.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 67 to 69, wherein said recording medium is the wall paper.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 67 to 72, characterized by further comprising a process of fixing the ink onto said recording medium after the recording by attaching the ink onto said recording medium.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ink jet recording method according to claim 73, characterized by further comprising a process of washing the recording medium as recorded after said process of fixing the ink.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
41 words
An ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 67 to 74, characterized by further comprising a pretreatment process of containing a pretreatment agent in said recording medium before the recording by discharging the ink from said recording heads.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 67 to 75, wherein said recording head is an ink jet recording head for discharging the ink by the use of the heat energy, and having heat energy converters for generating the heat energy applied to the ink.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ink jet recording method according to claim 76, wherein said recording head causes a state change in the ink due to the heat energy applied by said heat energy converters to discharge the ink through discharge orifices based on said state change.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
20 words
A printed product obtained by practicing an ink jet recording method according to any one of claims 67 to 77.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
11 words
Products obtained by further processing printed products according to claim 78.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
31 words
Products according to claim 79, wherein said products are obtained by cutting out said printed product in desired size, cut pieces being subjected to a process for obtaining said final products.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
15 words
Products according to claim 80, wherein said process for obtaining said final products is stitching.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
10 words
Products according to claim 81, wherein said products are clothings.
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