Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink-jet printing method for performing printing by ejecting ink and processing liquid insolubilizing ink

Claim 2

An ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; a data generator for generating liquid ejecting data according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, on a basis of the print data for each of pixels; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning and for controlling said liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to the liquid ejecting data generated by said data generator in n-1 or less scanning cycles.

Claim 3

An ink-jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of times indicated by said n-1 or less of scanning cycles is one, and the one scanning cycle corresponds to a last one scanning cycle of the n scanning cycles of said ink ejecting portion.

Claim 4

An ink-jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of times indicated by said n-1 or less of scanning cycles is one, and the one scanning cycle corresponds to a first one scanning cycle of the n scanning cycles of said ink ejecting portion.

Claim 5

An ink-jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of times indicated by said n-1 or less of scanning cycles is one, and the one scanning cycle corresponds to a last one or a first one scanning cycle of the n scanning cycles of said ink ejecting portion.

Claim 6

An ink-jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of times indicated by said n-1 or less of scanning cycles is two, and the one scanning cycle corresponds to a last one and a first one scanning cycles of the n scanning cycles of said ink ejecting portion.

Claim 7

An ink-jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the liquid contains a low-molecular cationic material and a high-molecular cationic material, and the ink contains an anionic dye.

Claim 8

An ink-jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the liquid contains a low-molecular cationic material and a high-molecular cationic material, and the ink contains an anionic compound and a pigment.

Claim 9

An ink-jet printing apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion produce a bubble in the ink and the liquid, respectively, by using thermal energy to eject the ink and the liquid, respectively, by the agency of the bubble.

Claim 10

An ink-jet printing method for ejecting an ink and a liquid containing at least a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink, and forms one pixel by ejecting the ink in a plurality of scanning cycles, said ink-jet printing method comprising the step of: generating a liquid ejecting signal for ejecting the liquid on a basis of an ink ejecting signal; wherein the liquid ejecting signal is generated in a different manner respectively for the plurality of scanning cycles.

Claim 11

An ink-jet printing method for ejecting an ink and a liquid containing at least a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink, and forms one pixel by ejecting the ink in a plurality of scanning cycles, said ink-jet printing method comprising the step of: generating a liquid ejecting signal for ejecting the liquid on a basis of an ink ejecting signal; wherein the liquid ejecting signal is generated in a different manner respectively for the plurality of scanning cycles.

Claim 12

An ink-jet printing method for ejecting an ink and a liquid containing at least a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink, and forms one pixel by ejecting the ink in a plurality of scanning cycles, said ink-jet printing method comprising the step of: generating a liquid ejecting signal for ejecting the liquid on a basis of an ink ejecting signal; wherein a ratio S/I, where S is the number of pixels to which the liquid is ejected in one scanning cycle and I is the number of pixels to which the ink is ejected in one scanning cycle, is differentiated for each one of the plurality of scanning cycles.

Claim 13

An ink-jet printing method for ejecting an ink and a liquid containing at least a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink, and forms one pixel by ejecting the ink in a plurality of scanning cycles, said ink-jet printing method comprising the step of: generating a liquid ejecting signal for ejecting the liquid on a basis of an ink ejecting signal; wherein a ratio S/I, where S is the number of pixels to which the liquid is ejected in one scanning cycle and I is the number of pixels to which the ink is ejected in one scanning cycle, is differentiated for each one of the plurality of scanning cycles.

Claim 14

An ink-jet printing method for ejecting an ink and a liquid containing at least a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink, and forms one pixel by ejecting the ink in a plurality of scanning cycles, said ink-jet printing method comprising the step of: generating a liquid ejecting signal for ejecting the liquid on a basis of an ink ejecting signal; wherein the liquid ejecting signal is generated a different manner respectively for the plurality of scanning cycles, and a ratio S/I, where S is the number of pixels to which the liquid is ejected in one scanning cycle and I is the number of pixels to which the ink is ejected in one scanning cycle, is differentiated for each one of the plurality of scanning cycles.

Claim 15

An ink-jet printing method for ejecting an ink and a liquid containing at least a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink, and forms one pixel by ejecting the ink in a plurality of scanning cycles, said ink-jet printing method comprising the step of: generating a liquid ejecting signal for ejecting the liquid on a basis of an ink ejecting signal; wherein the liquid ejecting signal is generated a different manner respectively for the plurality of scanning cycles, and a ratio S/I, where S is the number of pixels to which the liquid is ejected in one scanning cycle and I is the number of pixels to which the ink is ejected in one scanning cycle, is differentiated for each one of the plurality of scanning cycles.

Claim 16

An ink-jet printing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ratio S/I for a later scanning cycle is greater than that for an earlier scanning cycle.

Claim 17

An ink-jet printing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ratio S/I for the an earlier scanning cycle is greater than that for a later scanning cycle.

Claim 18

An ink-jet printing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ratio S/I=0 for an earlier scanning cycle.

Claim 19

An ink-jet printing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ratio S/I=0 for a later scanning cycle.

Claim 20

An ink-jet printing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the number of the scanning cycles is three or more, and the ratio S/I for an intermediate scanning cycle is smaller than that for the preceding scanning cycle and that for the succeeding scanning cycle.

Claim 21

An ink-jet printing method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the ratio S/I=0 for the intermediate scanning cycle.

Claim 22

An image forming apparatus comprising: (a) an ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said ink-jet apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; a data generator for generating liquid ejecting data according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, on a basis of the print data for each of pixels; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning and for controlling said liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to the liquid ejecting data generated by said data generator in n-1 or less scanning cycles; and (b) an image reading unit for reading an original image and outputting the original image data; wherein said ink-jet printing apparatus performs printing on a basis of print data read by said image reading unit.

Claim 23

An image forming apparatus comprising: (a) an ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said ink-jet apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; a data generator for generating liquid ejecting data according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, on a basis of the print data for each of pixels; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning and for controlling said liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to the liquid ejecting data generated by said data generator in n-1 or less scanning cycles; and (b) an image reading unit for reading an original image and outputting the original image data; wherein said ink-jet printing apparatus performs printing on a basis of print data read by said image reading unit.

Claim 24

An image forming apparatus comprising: (a) an ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said ink-jet apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller means for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; a data generator for generating liquid ejecting data according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, on a basis of the print data for each of pixels; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning and for controlling said liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to the liquid ejecting data generated by said data generator in n-1 or less scanning cycles; and (b) a print data sending and receiving unit capable of sending print data to and receiving print data from an external apparatus; wherein said ink-jet printing apparatus performs printing on a basis of print data received by said print data sending and receiving unit.

Claim 25

An image forming apparatus comprising: (a) an ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said ink-jet apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller means for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; a data generator for generating liquid ejecting data according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, on a basis of the print data for each of pixels; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning and for controlling said liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to the liquid ejecting data generated by said data generator in n-1 or less scanning cycles; and (b) a print data sending and receiving unit capable of sending print data to and receiving print data from an external apparatus; wherein said ink-jet printing apparatus performs printing on a basis of print data received by said print data sending and receiving unit.

Claim 26

An information processing apparatus comprising: (a) an ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said ink-jet apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; a data generator for generating liquid ejecting data according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, on a basis of the print data for each of pixels; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning means to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning and for controlling said liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to the liquid ejecting data generated by said data generator in n-1 or less scanning cycles; and (b) a computer; wherein said ink-jet printing apparatus further comprises a print data receiving unit for receiving print data provided by said computer and performs printing on a basis of the print data provided by said computer.

Claim 27

An information processing apparatus comprising: (a) an ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said ink-jet apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; a data generator for generating liquid ejecting data according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, on a basis of the print data for each of pixels; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning means to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning and for controlling said liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to the liquid ejecting data generated by said data generator in n-1 or less scanning cycles; and (b) a computer; wherein said ink-jet printing apparatus further comprises a print data receiving unit for receiving print data provided by said computer and performs printing on a basis of the print data provided by said computer.

Claim 28

An ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning an for controlling the liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to liquid ejecting data in n-1 or less scanning cycles, wherein the liquid ejecting data, according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, is generated on a basis of the print data for each of the pixels.

Claim 29

An ink-jet printing apparatus for performing printing by ejecting an ink from an ink ejecting portion and a liquid at least containing a material which insolubilizes or coagulates a coloring material in the ink from a liquid ejecting portion, to a printing medium, said apparatus comprising: a scanning device for moving the ink ejecting portion and the liquid ejecting portion for scanning; an ink ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said ink ejecting portion n (n is an integer not less than two) scanning cycles for one pixel and for controlling the ink ejecting portion to eject the ink to the pixel according to print data in said n scanning cycles; and a liquid ejecting controller for controlling said scanning device to move said liquid ejecting portion for scanning an for controlling the liquid ejecting portion to eject the liquid to a pixel according to liquid ejecting data in n-1 or less scanning cycles, wherein the liquid ejecting data, according to which said liquid ejecting portion ejects the liquid for pixels to be printed, is generated on a basis of the print data for each of the pixels.