Image output appparatus and image formation system for correcting density unevenness

Claim 2

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, wherein the test image is a test image formed by performing overlap printing by using said printing heads; reading means for reading the test image formed by said image forming means; and correcting means for correcting an image signal corresponding to an image to be recorded, based on a result of reading of the test image by said reading means, wherein an amount of correction performed by said correcting means is common to said plurality of printing heads, corresponding to an image formed by performing overlap printing by using said printing heads.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means averages density data which is obtained by reading the test image, by number of said printing heads, and performs the common correction based on a resulting average value.

Claim 4

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 image signals corresponding to said printing heads based on individual density data obtained by reading the test images.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second correcting means separately, time-divisionally corrects the image signals corresponding to said printing heads.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3, 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

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two said printing heads are provided for each of plural printing agents of different colors.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing heads use an ink as the printing agent and eject the ink.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said printing heads eject the ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means corrects drive signals to be supplied to said printing heads.

Claim 11

An image forming 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 based on a result of reading obtained by said reading means, 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 separate correction being performed when non-overlap printing is to be executed, and wherein 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 to be printed.

Claim 12

An image forming 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 based on a result of reading obtained by said reading means, 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 separate correction being performed when non-overlap printing is to be executed, and wherein 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 to be printed.

Claim 13

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 the printing heads to form a test image, wherein the test image is one test image formed by performing overlap printing by using the printing heads; reading the test image formed in said image forming step; and correcting an image signal corresponding to an image to be recorded, based on a result obtained in said reading steps, wherein in said correcting step, an amount of correction is common to said plurality of printing heads, corresponding to an image formed by performing overlap printing by using said recording heads.

Claim 14

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 the printing heads to form a test image, wherein the test image is one test image formed by performing overlap printing by using the printing heads; reading the test image formed in said image forming step; and correcting an image signal corresponding to an image to be recorded, based on a result obtained in said reading steps, wherein in said correcting step, an amount of correction is common to said plurality of printing heads, corresponding to an image formed by performing overlap printing by using said recording heads.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 11, wherein the correcting step averages density data which is obtained by reading the test image, by number of said printing heads, and performs the common correction based on a resulting average value.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 11, further comprising: a second image forming step of causing said printing heads to form respective test images; and a second correcting step of separately correcting image signals corresponding to said printing heads on the basis of individual density data obtained by reading the test images.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 13, wherein the second correcting step separately, time-divisionally corrects the image signals corresponding to said printing heads.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 13, 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 a control step of performing the common correction when the overlap printing is to be executed, and separate correction when the non-overlap printing is to be executed.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 11, wherein at least two said printing heads are provided for each of plural printing agents of different colors.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 11, wherein said printing heads use an ink as the printing agent and eject the ink.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 17, wherein said printing heads eject the ink by using thermal energy.

Claim 22

A method according to claim 11, wherein the printing medium is cloth.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 11, wherein the correcting step corrects drive signals to be supplied to said printing heads.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of fixing an ink on a printing medium after image output is performed by applying the ink on the printing medium.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 21, further comprising, after the ink fixing step, a step of cleaning the printing medium subjected to printing.

Claim 26

A method according to claim 11, further comprising a pretreatment step of causing the printing medium to contain a pretreating agent before printing is performed by ejecting an ink from said printing heads.