US5596353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image reading apparatus with a function for correcting nonuniformity in recording density
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1995-01-11
•
Granted: 1997-01-21
•
Expires: 2015-01-11
Abstract
Abstract An image recording apparatus includes a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged so as to form an image on a recording medium, a device for causing the recording head to print a predetermined test pattern, an image density reading device for reading the density of the test pattern formed by the recording head, an uneven image density correction device for correcting conditions for driving the plurality of recording elements in accordance with the result of reading, so as to make even the density of the image formed in accordance with the result of reading, a recording stabilizing device for stabilizing a recording operation performed by the recording head, and a control device for operating the recording stabilizing device before the test pattern is printed and operating the test pattern printing device after the recording head has been stabilized by the recording stabilizing device.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihiro Takada
- 👤 Akio Suzuki
- 👤 Toshimitsu Danzuka
- 👤 Haruhiko Moriguchi
- 👤 Hisashi Fukushima
- 👤 Masami Izumizaki
- 👤 Yasushi Miura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:17
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J29/00; B41J29/38; B41J29/393; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4076; H04N1/4078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 67
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from said recording elements; means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing an ink ejection operation by said recording head by means of discharge of the ink from the outlets; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from said recording elements; means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing an ink ejection operation by said recording head by means of discharge of the ink from the outlets; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording stabilizing means comprises at least one of means for forcibly discharging ink from said recording head, means for cleaning a surface of said recording head through which the outlet for ejecting the ink is formed, and means for driving said recording head to eject the ink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording stabilizing means raises the temperature adjustment conditions when the test pattern is printed more than the temperature adjustment conditions when normal recording is performed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of said recording heads are provided to correspond to recording agents of different colors for the purpose of performing multi-color recording and said recording stabilizing means stabilizes the recording operation of each of said plurality of recording heads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said recording elements comprise electrothermal conversion elements which are utilized to generate film boiling in the ink to eject the ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
269 words
An image recording apparatus comprises: a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged so as to form an image on a recording medium; means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing a recording operation performed by said recording head; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means, wherein said recording stabilizing means includes a temperature adjustment means storing first and second references of an adjustment of a temperature and said control means causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with first reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that first density data is obtained by said reading means, causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with the second reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that second density data is obtained by said reading means and corrects the driving conditions with said correction means using said first and second density data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
269 words
An image recording apparatus comprises: a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged so as to form an image on a recording medium; means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing a recording operation performed by said recording head; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means, wherein said recording stabilizing means includes a temperature adjustment means storing first and second references of an adjustment of a temperature and said control means causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with first reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that first density data is obtained by said reading means, causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with the second reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that second density data is obtained by said reading means and corrects the driving conditions with said correction means using said first and second density data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first reference of the adjustment of the temperature is a reference of the temperature set for a normal recording operation and the second reference of the adjustment of the temperature is a reference of the temperature set for a test pattern printing operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a plurality of said recording heads are provided to correspond to recording agents of different colors for the purpose of performing multi-color recording and said recording stabilizing means stabilizes the recording operation of each of said plurality of recording heads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said recording head comprises an ink jet recording head and said ink jet recording head includes electrothermal conversion elements which are utilized to generate film boiling in the ink to eject the ink, said electrothermal conversion elements comprising said recording elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said recording head for recording an image on the recording medium by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from the recording elements, said image recording apparatus comprising: means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing an ink ejection operation by said recording head by means of discharge of the ink from the outlets; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
191 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said recording head for recording an image on the recording medium by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from the recording elements, said image recording apparatus comprising: means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing an ink ejection operation by said recording head by means of discharge of the ink from the outlets; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording stabilizing means comprises at least one of means for forcibly discharging ink from said recording head, means for cleaning a surface of said recording head through which the outlet for ejecting the ink is formed, and means for driving said recording head to eject the ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording stabilizing means raises the temperature adjustment conditions when the test pattern is printed more than the temperature adjustment conditions when normal recording is performed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of said recording heads are provided to correspond to recording agents of different colors for the purpose of performing multi-color recording and said recording stabilizing means stabilizes the recording operation of each of said plurality of recording heads.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said recording elements comprise electrothermal conversion elements which are utilized to generate film boiling in the ink to eject the ink.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
274 words
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image forming apparatus comprising: means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing a recording operation performed by said recording head; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means, wherein said recording stabilizing means includes a temperature adjustment means storing first and second references of an adjustment of a temperature and said control means causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with the first reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that first density data is obtained by said reading means, causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with the second reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that second density data is obtained by said reading means and corrects the driving conditions with said correction means using said first and second density data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
274 words
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image forming apparatus comprising: means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with a result of reading by said image density reading means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing a recording operation performed by said recording head; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means, wherein said recording stabilizing means includes a temperature adjustment means storing first and second references of an adjustment of a temperature and said control means causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with the first reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that first density data is obtained by said reading means, causes printing of the test pattern after a stabilizing process has been performed in accordance with the second reference of the adjustment of the temperature so that second density data is obtained by said reading means and corrects the driving conditions with said correction means using said first and second density data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 10 or 15, wherein said recording head comprises an ink jet recording head and said ink jet recording head includes electrothermal conversion elements which are utilized to generate film boiling in ink to eject the ink, said electrothermal conversion elements comprising said recording elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged so as to form a visible image on a recording medium; signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with a result of reading by said reading means; and fixing stabilizing means for stabilizing a recording density of the test pattern formed on the recording medium before reading by said reading means is performed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged so as to form a visible image on a recording medium; signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with a result of reading by said reading means; and fixing stabilizing means for stabilizing a recording density of the test pattern formed on the recording medium before reading by said reading means is performed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said reading means is disposed in a lower stream in a medium conveyance passage from said recording head and said fixing stabilizing means has means for stopping a conveyance of the recording medium on which the test pattern is formed or lowering a conveying speed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 13 or 18, wherein a plurality of said recording heads are provided to correspond to recording agents of different colors for the purpose of performing multi-color recording.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein said recording head comprises an ink jet recording head and said ink jet recording head includes electrothermal conversion elements which are utilized to generate film boiling in ink to eject the ink, said electrothermal conversion elements comprising said recording elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
117 words
An image recording apparatus for forming a visible image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined visible test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and fixing stabilizing means for stabilizing a recording density of the test pattern formed on the recording medium before reading by said reading means is performed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
117 words
An image recording apparatus for forming a visible image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined visible test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and fixing stabilizing means for stabilizing a recording density of the test pattern formed on the recording medium before reading by said reading means is performed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image forming apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recording head comprises an ink jet recording head and said ink jet recording head includes electrothermal conversion elements which are utilized to generate film boiling in ink to eject the ink, said electrothermal conversion elements comprising said recording elements.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
138 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
138 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said enabling means comprises feeding means for feeding the recording medium from a recording position adjacent said recording head to a reading position adjacent said reading means and control means for controlling an operation of said feeding means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein plural recording heads are provided, the number of which corresponds to a number of recording colors.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said recording head records an image by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from said recording elements.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said recording elements generate thermal energy and eject ink from the outlets by producing film boiling in the ink by means of the thermal energy.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
209 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium, wherein said enabling means comprises feeding means for feeding the recording medium from a recording position adjacent said recording head to a reading position adjacent said reading means and control means for controlling an operation of said feeding means, wherein said control means suspends an operation of said feeding means for a time period corresponding to the predetermined time period, after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
209 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium, wherein said enabling means comprises feeding means for feeding the recording medium from a recording position adjacent said recording head to a reading position adjacent said reading means and control means for controlling an operation of said feeding means, wherein said control means suspends an operation of said feeding means for a time period corresponding to the predetermined time period, after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein plural recording heads are provided, the number of which corresponds to a number of recording colors.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said recording head records an image by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from said recording elements.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said recording elements generate thermal energy and eject ink from the outlets by producing film boiling in the ink by means of the thermal energy.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
217 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium, wherein said enabling means comprises feeding means for feeding the recording medium from a recording position adjacent said recording head to a reading position adjacent said reading means and control means for controlling an operation of said feeding means, wherein said control means reduces a speed of said feeding means in such a manner that the recording medium may reach the reading position after the predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
217 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; reading means for reading the test pattern formed by said recording head in accordance with said signal generating means; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with the result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium, wherein said enabling means comprises feeding means for feeding the recording medium from a recording position adjacent said recording head to a reading position adjacent said reading means and control means for controlling an operation of said feeding means, wherein said control means reduces a speed of said feeding means in such a manner that the recording medium may reach the reading position after the predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein plural recording heads are provided, the number of which corresponds to a number of recording colors.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said recording head records an image by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from said recording elements.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said recording elements generate thermal energy and eject ink from the outlets by producing film boiling in the ink by means of the thermal energy.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said recording head for recording an image on the recording medium by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from the recording elements, in accordance with image data, said image recording apparatus comprising: test pattern printing means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; input means for inputting data associated with a density of the predetermined test pattern formed on the recording medium by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with the data inputted by said input means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing an ink ejection operation by said recording head by means of discharge of the ink from the outlets; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
202 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head having a plurality of recording elements, said recording head for recording an image on the recording medium by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from the recording elements, in accordance with image data, said image recording apparatus comprising: test pattern printing means for causing said recording head to print a predetermined test pattern on the recording medium; input means for inputting data associated with a density of the predetermined test pattern formed on the recording medium by said recording head; uneven image density correction means for correcting conditions for driving said plurality of recording elements in accordance with the data inputted by said input means so as to make even a density of the image; recording stabilizing means operable on said recording head for stabilizing an ink ejection operation by said recording head by means of discharge of the ink from the outlets; and control means for operating said recording stabilizing means before said test pattern printing means causes the test pattern to be printed and operating said test pattern printing means after said recording head has been stabilized by said recording stabilizing means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said recording stabilizing means comprises at least one of means for forcibly discharging ink from said recording head, means for cleaning a surface of said recording head through which the outlet for ejecting the ink is formed, and means for driving said recording head to eject the ink.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said recording stabilizing means raises temperature adjustment conditions when the test pattern is printed to be more than when normal recording is performed.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
49 words
An image recording apparatus according to claim 36, wherein a plurality of said recording heads are provided to correspond to recording agents of different colors for the purpose of performing multi-color recording and said recording stabilizing means stabilizes the recording operation of each of said plurality of recording heads.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said input means comprises image density reading means for reading a density of the test pattern formed on the recording medium by said recording head.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said correction means corrects the driving condition by correcting the image data in accordance with correction data.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said correction means corrects image data corresponding to each of the recording elements.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said correction means corrects the image data in accordance with a correction line.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said correction means comprises memory means for storing therein a plurality of correction lines and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of correction lines stored in said memory means in accordance with the correction data.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said correction means causes said selection means to select one of the correction lines for each of the recording elements, and corrects the image data for each recording element in accordance with the selected correction line.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 36 to 45, wherein said recording elements comprise electrothermal conversion elements which are utilized to generate film boiling in the ink to eject the ink.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
174 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus being operable a correction mode for correcting unevenness in density of the plurality of recording elements, in which a driving condition of the recording head is corrected in accordance with data from reading means which reads a density of a predetermined test pattern recorded on the recording medium by the recording head, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print the test pattern on the recording medium; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with a result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
174 words
An image recording apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged, said image recording apparatus being operable a correction mode for correcting unevenness in density of the plurality of recording elements, in which a driving condition of the recording head is corrected in accordance with data from reading means which reads a density of a predetermined test pattern recorded on the recording medium by the recording head, said image recording apparatus comprising: signal generating means for causing said recording head to print the test pattern on the recording medium; correction means for correcting conditions for driving said recording head in accordance with a result of reading by said reading means; and enabling means for enabling said reading means to read the test pattern after a predetermined time period after the recording of the test pattern by said recording head, said predetermined time period being enough to stabilize a record density of the test pattern recorded on the recording medium.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said enabling means comprises feeding means for feeding the recording medium from a recording position adjacent said recording head to a reading position adjacent said reading means and control means for controlling an operation of said feeding means.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said correction means corrects the driving condition by correcting image data in accordance with the data from the reading means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said correction means corrects the image data corresponding to each of the recording elements.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said correction means corrects the image data in accordance with a correction line.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said correction means comprises memory means for storing therein a plurality of correction lines and selection means for selecting one of the plurality of correction lines stored in said memory means in accordance with the data from the reading means.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claims 52, wherein said correction means causes said selection means to select one of the correction lines for each of the recording elements, and corrects the image data for each recording element in accordance with the selected correction line.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein plural recording heads are provided, the number of which corresponds to a number of recording colors.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 47 to 54, wherein said recording head records an image by ejecting ink from outlets using energy generated from said recording elements.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein each of said recording elements comprises an electrothermal conversion element which is utilized to generate film boiling in the ink to eject the ink.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-21 | 2000-07-22 | 2001-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-21 | 2004-07-22 | 2005-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-22 | 2009-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |