US5708463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ink jet recording device having monochromatic and color recording modes
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1998-01-13
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet recording device having scanning means for scanning an ink jet recording head having plural arrays in a scanning direction, wherein each of the arrays has discharge ports such that each of the arrays discharges a different color ink, supplying means for supplying recording signals corresponding to a first recording area to plural of ink discharge energy generating elements, conveying means for conveying a recording medium relative to the recording head, and control means for controlling the ink jet recording head, the supplying means and conveying means so that when the control means operates in a first recording mode, a recording covering the first recording area is produced by one of the arrays during one scanning operation, and when the control means operates in a second recording mode a recording covering a second recording area which is smaller than the first recording area is produced by each of the arrays during one scanning operation. The control means selects the recording mode at least according to a number of colors of an image to be recorded on the recording medium and the second recording area produced by respective arrays during the one scanning operation are not overlapped in the scanning direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiromitsu Hirabayashi
- 👤 Atsushi Arai
- 👤 Hiroshi Tajika
- 👤 Noribumi Koitabashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:10
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/04; H04N1/12; H04N1/126; H04N1/128; B41J2/21; B41J2/2132; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/1911; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; H04N1/502; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094; G06K2215/0097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An ink jet recording device comprising: scanning means for scanning an ink jet recording head having a plurality of arrays in a scanning direction, wherein each of said arrays has a plurality of discharge ports such that each of said arrays discharges a different color ink; supplying means for supplying recording signals corresponding to a first recording area to a plurality of ink discharge energy generating elements; conveying means for conveying a recording medium relative to said recording head; and control means for controlling said ink jet recording head, said supplying means and said conveying means so that when said control means operates in a first recording mode, a recording covering the first recording area is produced by one of said arrays during one scanning operation, and when said control means operates in a second recording mode a recording covering a second recording area which is smaller than the first recording area is produced by each of said arrays during one scanning operation, the control means selecting the recording mode, at least according to a number of colors of an image to be recorded on the recording medium and said second recording area produced by respective arrays during the one scanning operation are not overlapped in the scanning direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
An ink jet recording device comprising: scanning means for scanning an ink jet recording head having a plurality of arrays in a scanning direction, wherein each of said arrays has a plurality of discharge ports such that each of said arrays discharges a different color ink; supplying means for supplying recording signals corresponding to a first recording area to a plurality of ink discharge energy generating elements; conveying means for conveying a recording medium relative to said recording head; and control means for controlling said ink jet recording head, said supplying means and said conveying means so that when said control means operates in a first recording mode, a recording covering the first recording area is produced by one of said arrays during one scanning operation, and when said control means operates in a second recording mode a recording covering a second recording area which is smaller than the first recording area is produced by each of said arrays during one scanning operation, the control means selecting the recording mode, at least according to a number of colors of an image to be recorded on the recording medium and said second recording area produced by respective arrays during the one scanning operation are not overlapped in the scanning direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said ink discharge energy generating elements comprise electrothermal transducers of thermal energy generating elements which cause film boiling to occur in the ink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said recording heads are arranged in the scanning direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a part of the second recording area recorded during the second recording mode is 1/n of the first recording area, wherein n is an integer which can be varied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is a half of the first recording area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is a quarter of the first recording area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is an eighth of the first recording area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising four said recording heads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ink jet recording head according to claim 8, wherein said four recording heads emit Y, M, C and K inks respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An ink jet recording device according to claim 8, wherein said four recording heads emit, R, G, B and K inks respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said recording head is integrally formed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said recording head is exchangeable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
An ink jet recording device according to claim 8, wherein said control means increases at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by increasing the number of said recording heads used for recording and reduces at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by reducing the number of said recording heads used for recording.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ink jet recording device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said control means increases at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by increasing a recording area of at least one of said recording heads, and decreases at least one of the first recording area and the second recording area covered per scanning operation by decreasing the recording area of at least one of said recording heads.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is defined by a number of the discharge ports.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said second recording area recorded in the second recording mode is defined by a number of the discharge ports.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said control means selects the first recording mode when the image to be recorded on the recording medium is in mono-color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An ink jet recording device according to claim 1, wherein said control means selects the second recording mode when the image to be recorded on the recording medium is in multi-color.
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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) | 2001-01-12 | 2001-07-14 | 2002-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-12 | 2005-07-14 | 2006-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-12 | 2009-07-14 | 2010-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |