Image recording apparatus

Claim 2

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: image signal generating means for obtaining an image signal which represents an image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium in response to the signals from said image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein at least one other recording element, which does not record additional data, scans the predetermined area during the recording of the additional data; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 3

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise ink jet recording heads for discharging ink droplets.

Claim 4

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of recording elements are two dimensionally arranged.

Claim 5

An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional signal includes data such as characters and the like regarding a date.

Claim 6

An image recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of recording elements are arranged parallel to the relative scanning direction provided by said scanning means.

Claim 7

An image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of recording elements record respective different colors.

Claim 8

An image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said plurality of recording elements records black.

Claim 9

An image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said recording element for recording black is arranged at the endmost portion in the arrangement of said plurality of recording elements.

Claim 10

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: image signal generating means for obtaining an image signal which represents an image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium in response to the signals from said image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise ink jet recording heads for discharging ink droplets; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 11

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: image signal generating means for obtaining an image signal which represents an image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium in response to the signals from said image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise ink jet recording heads for discharging ink droplets; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 12

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: image signal generating means for obtaining an image signal which represents an image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means of obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium in response to the signals from said image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein said plurality of recording elements are two-dimensionally arranged; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 13

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: image signal generating means for obtaining an image signal which represents an image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means of obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium in response to the signals from said image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein said plurality of recording elements are two-dimensionally arranged; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 14

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: image signal generating means for obtaining an image signal which represents an image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium, wherein the additional signal includes data such as characters and the like regarding a date; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium in response to the signals from said image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 15

An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising: image signal generating means for obtaining an image signal which represents an image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium, wherein the additional signal includes data such as characters and the like regarding a date; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium in response to the signals from said image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 16

A color image recording apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium, comprising: color image signal generating means for obtaining a color image signal which represents a color image to be recorded in a predetermined are on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium with a plurality of colors in response to the signals from said color image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise ink jet recording heads for discharging ink droplets; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 17

A color image recording apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium, comprising: color image signal generating means for obtaining a color image signal which represents a color image to be recorded in a predetermined are on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium with a plurality of colors in response to the signals from said color image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein said plurality of recording elements comprise ink jet recording heads for discharging ink droplets; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 18

A color image recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one other recording element, which does not record additional data, scans the predetermined area during the recording of the additional data.

Claim 19

A color image recording apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium, comprising: color image signal generating means for obtaining a color image signal which represents a color image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium with a plurality of colors in response to the signals from said color image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein at least one other recording element, which does not record additional data, scans the predetermined area during the recording of the additional data; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 20

A color image recording apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium, comprising: color image signal generating means for obtaining a color image signal which represents a color image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium with a plurality of colors in response to the signals from said color image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means, wherein at least one other recording element, which does not record additional data, scans the predetermined area during the recording of the additional data; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording element records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 21

An image recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of recording elements are arranged parallel to the relative scanning direction provided by said scanning means.

Claim 22

An image recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said recording element for recording the additional data is arranged at the endmost portion in the arrangement of said plurality of recording elements.

Claim 23

An image recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording element for recording the additional data records black.

Claim 24

A color image recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the additional signal includes data such as characters and the like regarding a date.

Claim 25

A color image recording apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium, comprising: color image signal generating means for obtaining a color image signal which represents a color image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium, wherein the additional signal includes data such as characters and the like regarding a date; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium with a plurality of colors in response to the signals from said color image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording elements records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.

Claim 26

A color image recording apparatus for recording a color image on a recording medium, comprising: color image signal generating means for obtaining a color image signal which represents a color image to be recorded in a predetermined area on the recording medium; additional signal generating means for obtaining an additional signal which represents additional data to be recorded outside the predetermined area on the recording medium, wherein the additional signal includes data such as characters and the like regarding a date; recording means including a plurality of recording elements for recording on the recording medium with a plurality of colors in response to the signals from said color image signal generating means and said additional signal generating means; scanning means for providing relative movement between said recording means and the recording medium, the predetermined area being defined by the relative movement of said recording means and the recording medium; and control means for applying the additional signal to at least one of said plurality of recording elements when said at least one recording element scans the recording medium outside the predetermined area, such that said at least one recording elements records the additional data outside the predetermined area on the recording medium.