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EP0645245A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image output apparatus and image formation system for correcting density unevenness

Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-07-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-07-28
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Abstract

Abstract A test image is formed by performing overlap printing using a plurality of printing heads provided for a printing agent of one color. Density data attained by reading this test image is averaged. On the basis of this average value, a common correction is performed for drive signals for the printing heads. This makes it possible to perform head density unevenness correction at a high efficiency in performing overlap printing by using the plurality of printing heads.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kazuyoshi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Takahashi
  • 👤 Takashi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Watanabe
  • 👤 Toshiyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Yanaka

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 18:12
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J3/00; B41J3/54; B41J3/543; B41J11/00; B41J11/0015; B41J11/002; B41J11/0022; B41J11/0024; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/21; B41J2/2132; D; D06; D06P; D06P5/00; D06P5/30; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/027; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/401; H04N1/4015; B41J2/17; B41J2/18; B41J2/185; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094; G06K2215/101; G06K2215/111

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
An image output apparatus which outputs an image on a printing medium by using a plurality of printing heads provided for a printing agent of one color and each having a plurality of printing elements, comprising: image forming means for causing said printing heads to form a test image; reading means for reading the test image formed by said image forming means; and correcting means for performing a common correction for image signals corresponding to said printing heads on the basis of the result read by said reading means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test image is one test image formed by performing overlap printing by using said printing heads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said correcting means averages density data, which is obtained by reading the test image, by the number of said printing heads, and performs the correction on the basis of the average value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: second image forming means for causing said printing heads to form respective test images; and second correcting means for separately correcting the image signals corresponding to said printing heads on the basis of individual density data obtained by reading the test images.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second correcting means separately, time-divisionally corrects the image signals corresponding to said printing heads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 65 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said printing heads are arranged in a conveyance direction of the printing medium to allow overlap printing or non-overlap printing on the printing medium using said printing heads, and further comprising control means for performing the common correction when the overlap printing is to be executed, and the separate correction when the non-overlap printing is to be executed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of printing heads are provided for each of printing agents of different colors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing heads use an ink as the printing agent and eject the ink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said printing heads eject the ink by using thermal energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 12 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing medium is cloth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means corrects drive signals to be supplied to said printing heads.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 115 words
An image formation system comprising an image output apparatus which outputs an image on a printing medium by using a plurality of printing heads provided for a printing agent of one color and each having a plurality of printing elements, and an image supply apparatus for supplying image data relating to printing to said image output apparatus, said image output apparatus comprising: image forming means for causing said printing heads to form a test image; reading means for reading the test image formed by said image forming means; and correcting means for performing a common correction for image signals corresponding to said printing heads on the basis of the result read by said reading means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 93 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein said printing heads are arranged in a conveyance direction of the printing medium to allow overlap printing or non-overlap printing on the printing medium using said printing heads, the common correction being performed when the overlap printing is to be executed, and the separate correction being performed when the non-overlap printing is to be executed, and said image supply apparatus supplies to said image output apparatus a command for performing the overlap printing or the non-overlap printing, in addition to the image data relating to printing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 82 words
An image output method which outputs an image on a printing medium by using a plurality of printing heads provided for a printing agent of one color and each having a plurality of printing elements, comprising the steps of: causing said printing heads to form a test image; reading the test image formed by the image forming step; and performing a common correction for image signals corresponding to said printing heads on the basis of the result read by the reading step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 13, wherein the test image is one test image formed by performing overlap printing by using said printing heads.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 39 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the correcting step averages density data, which is obtained by reading the test image, by the number of said printing heads, and performs the correction on the basis of the average value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 52 words
A method according to claim 14, further comprising: the second image forming step of causing said printing heads to form respective test images; and the second correcting step of separately correcting the image signals corresponding to said printing heads on the basis of individual density data obtained by reading the test images.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein the second correcting step separately, time-divisionally corrects the image signals corresponding to said printing heads.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 66 words
A method according to claim 17, wherein said printing heads are arranged in a conveyance direction of the printing medium to allow overlap printing or non-overlap printing on the printing medium using said printing heads, and further comprising the control step of performing the common correction when the overlap printing is to be executed, and the separate correction when the non-overlap printing is to be executed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of printing heads are provided for each of printing agents of different colors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said printing heads use an ink as the printing agent and eject the ink.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to claim 21, wherein said printing heads eject the ink by using thermal energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 12 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the printing medium is cloth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the correcting step corrects drive signals to be supplied to said printing heads.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of fixing an ink on the printing medium after image output is performed by applying the ink on the printing medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 25, further comprising, after the ink fixing step, the step of cleaning the printing medium subjected to printing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method according to claim 14, further comprising the pretreatment step of causing the printing medium to contain a pretreating agent before printing is performed by ejecting an ink from said printing heads.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 11 words
A printed matter printed by a method according to claim 14.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 14 words
A processed product obtained by further processing a printed matter according to claim 28.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 34 words
A product according to claim 29, wherein said product is obtained by cutting said printed matter into a desired size and performing a step of obtaining a final processed product for each cut piece.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 17 words
A product according to claim 30, wherein the step of obtaining a final processed product is sewing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 11 words
A product according to claim 29, wherein said product is clothing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPH0328727A Cited
JPH03104977A Cited
EP0454479A2 Cited
EP0461759A2 Cited
JPH04208468A Cited

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