Patent US5777640A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5777640A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid jet recording method using plural scanning nozzles and including first main scan, sub-scan, and second main-scan steps for recording pixels in tone
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1995-06-05
•
Granted: 1998-07-07
•
Expires: 2015-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A liquid jet recording method for recording on a recording material with liquid droplets discharged through plural scanning nozzles arranged in a width measured in a direction of main scan. The recording method includes a first main scan by relative movement between the nozzles and the recording material, in which pixels are recorded with numbers of droplets through a nozzle, the numbers of droplets corresponding to respective tone signals. The method also includes a sub-scan by relative movement between the nozzles and the recording material in a direction crossing with a movement direction of the first main scan. The method further includes a second main scan in which the pixels are recorded with numbers of droplets through a different nozzle, the latter numbers of droplets corresponding to tone level signals. The sub-scan and second main scan steps are repeated to record a tone image by discharging plural droplets for a pixel.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Shioya
- 👤 Yasuyuki Tamura
- 👤 Hiroto Takahashi
- 👤 Masayoshi Tachihara
- 👤 Tadashi Yamamoto
- 👤 Genji Inada
- 👤 Tatsuo Kimura
- 👤 Jun Ashiwa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:49
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/205; B41J2/2054; B41J19/00; B41J19/16; B41J2/21; B41J2/2132; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; G06K15/102; G06K15/105; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40025; H04N1/40031; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A liquid jet recording method of recording on a recording material with liquid droplets discharged through n (n≧2) scanning nozzles arranged at a first pitch p in a width measured in a direction of a sub-scan, comprising the steps of: performing a first main scan by relative movement between the n scanning nozzles and the recording material in which each of a plurality of pixels are recorded with at least one of the liquid droplets through one of the n scanning nozzles, wherein a number of the liquid droplets used to record each pixel corresponds to respective tone level signals and is not more than k where k≧1; performing a sub-scan by a relative movement between the n scanning nozzles and the recording material in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of the first main scan, in which a distance s of the relative movement in the substantially transverse direction is less than the width; and performing a second main scan in which each of the plurality of pixels is recorded with at least one of the liquid droplets through a different one of the n scanning nozzles, the number of the liquid droplets used to record each of the plurality of pixels in the second main scan corresponding to the respective tone level signals and being not more than k; wherein g is a number of tone levels and g≧3, and wherein the steps of performing the sub-scan and the second main scan are performed for at least (g-1)/(k-1) times so as to record g tone images by discharging substantially a same volume of the liquid droplets of which a maximum number is g-1, for each of the plurality of pixels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A liquid jet recording method of recording on a recording material with liquid droplets discharged through n (n≧2) scanning nozzles arranged at a first pitch p in a width measured in a direction of a sub-scan, comprising the steps of: performing a first main scan by relative movement between the n scanning nozzles and the recording material in which each of a plurality of pixels are recorded with at least one of the liquid droplets through one of the n scanning nozzles, wherein a number of the liquid droplets used to record each pixel corresponds to respective tone level signals and is not more than k where k≧1; performing a sub-scan by a relative movement between the n scanning nozzles and the recording material in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of the first main scan, in which a distance s of the relative movement in the substantially transverse direction is less than the width; and performing a second main scan in which each of the plurality of pixels is recorded with at least one of the liquid droplets through a different one of the n scanning nozzles, the number of the liquid droplets used to record each of the plurality of pixels in the second main scan corresponding to the respective tone level signals and being not more than k; wherein g is a number of tone levels and g≧3, and wherein the steps of performing the sub-scan and the second main scan are performed for at least (g-1)/(k-1) times so as to record g tone images by discharging substantially a same volume of the liquid droplets of which a maximum number is g-1, for each of the plurality of pixels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid droplets are not discharged during at least one of said first and said second main scan steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein scanning nozzles are operated in accordance with a scheme such that the scanning nozzles are operated at substantially even frequencies among the n scanning nozzles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein scanning nozzles to be operated are selected at each second main scan step in accordance with the pitch of the n scanning nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein plural liquid droplets are deposited for a pixel by one or more of the first main scan step and the second main scan steps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the liquid droplets discharged during the first main scan is different than the volume of the liquid droplets discharged during a subsequent one of the second main scans.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the liquid droplets discharged during an initial sub-scan is different than the amount of the liquid droplets discharged during a subsequent sub-scan.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein in each of the n scanning nozzles, thermal energy is used to cause a change of state in a liquid to discharge the liquid droplet through the nozzle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4723129A
Cited
US4740796A
Cited
JPS5456847A
Cited
US4459600A
Cited
US4345262A
Cited
US4312005A
Cited
US4463359A
Cited
US4313124A
Cited
US4558333A
Cited
US4401991A
Cited
US4528576A
Cited
US4540996A
Cited
EP0104285A1
Cited
JPS59123670A
Cited
JPS59138461A
Cited
JPS6071260A
Cited
US4608577A
Cited
US4622561A
Cited
EP0172592A1
Cited
US4728968A
Cited
US4746935A
Cited
JPS63120660A
Cited
EP0300595A1
Cited
US4855752A
Cited
US4812859A
Cited
JPH024523A
Cited
EP0376596A2
Cited
US4963882A
Cited
US4963882B1
Cited
US5121142A
Cited
US4967203A
Cited
US4999646A
Cited
US5300950A
Cited
US5384587A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |