US6174039B1 — Recording apparatus and recording method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 370 words

A recording apparatus comprising: main scan means for scanning recording means having a recording element row of a plurality of recording elements for applying ink onto a recording medium, said main scan means scanning the recording means in a different direction from that of said recording element row, relatively to the recording medium; sub-scanning means for sub-scanning said recording means and the recording medium relatively in a direction of said recording element row by a smaller amount than the total length of said recording element row after every main scan; image data supply means for dividing predetermined image data into sets of image data which are complementary to each other and supplying said divided sets of image data to different blocks of recording elements in the recording element row in each main scan to record said predetermined image data in a plurality of main scans by different blocks of said recording elements; detection means for detecting an abnormal recording element of said recording means, prior to each main scan; image data moving means for removing only the image data corresponding to the abnormal recording element detected by said detection means from a set of image data to be supplied to the block to which said abnormal recording element belongs and overlapping said removed image data with a set of image data to be supplied to another block at another main scan to record at the same area of the recording medium; and recording control means for, when the abnormal recording element is detected by said detection means, recording by using the block of said recording elements to which said abnormal recording element belongs to record at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means, and for recording by using said recording elements belonging to the other block at the same area as the area recorded at the one main scan in the other main scan in accordance with the set of image data formed by overlapping said removed image data with the set of image data supplied to the other block by said image data moving means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 370 words

A recording apparatus comprising: main scan means for scanning recording means having a recording element row of a plurality of recording elements for applying ink onto a recording medium, said main scan means scanning the recording means in a different direction from that of said recording element row, relatively to the recording medium; sub-scanning means for sub-scanning said recording means and the recording medium relatively in a direction of said recording element row by a smaller amount than the total length of said recording element row after every main scan; image data supply means for dividing predetermined image data into sets of image data which are complementary to each other and supplying said divided sets of image data to different blocks of recording elements in the recording element row in each main scan to record said predetermined image data in a plurality of main scans by different blocks of said recording elements; detection means for detecting an abnormal recording element of said recording means, prior to each main scan; image data moving means for removing only the image data corresponding to the abnormal recording element detected by said detection means from a set of image data to be supplied to the block to which said abnormal recording element belongs and overlapping said removed image data with a set of image data to be supplied to another block at another main scan to record at the same area of the recording medium; and recording control means for, when the abnormal recording element is detected by said detection means, recording by using the block of said recording elements to which said abnormal recording element belongs to record at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means, and for recording by using said recording elements belonging to the other block at the same area as the area recorded at the one main scan in the other main scan in accordance with the set of image data formed by overlapping said removed image data with the set of image data supplied to the other block by said image data moving means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 104 words

A recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said image data moving means removes image data corresponding to the abnormal recording element detected by said detection means from a set of image data to be supplied to the block to which said abnormal recording element belongs, and moving said removed image data to the other set of image data to be supplied to the other block to superimpose said removed image data thereon for recording on the same area of the recording medium in a main scan after the main scan for recording with the block to which said abnormal recording element belongs.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 103 words

A recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said image data moving means removes the image data corresponding to the abnormal recording element detected by said detection means from the set of image data to be supplied to the block in which said abnormal recording element belongs, and moves said image data to the other set of image data to be supplied to the other block to superimpose said image data thereon for recording on the same area of the recording medium in a main scan before the main scan for recording with the block to which said abnormal recording element belongs.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

An information processing device comprising a recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and calculation means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

A recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein each said recording element comprises an ink discharge orifice, and performs recording by discharging the ink from said discharge orifice to the recording medium.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 42 words

A recording apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each said recording element causes a state change in the ink by heating, and further comprises heat energy generating means for discharging the ink from said discharge orifice, based on said state change.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

A recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , characterized by being used for textile printing.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

An image forming device comprising a recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and original image reading means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image forming device comprising a recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and transmitting means and receiving means for respectively transmitting and receiving image information.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

An image forming device according to claim 9 , further comprising original image reading means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

An image forming device comprising a recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and recording signal input means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

An image forming means according to claim 11 , wherein said recording signal input means comprises a keyboard.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 339 words

A recording apparatus comprising: main scan means for scanning relative to a recording medium in a main scan direction a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements and correction recording means to record on the recording medium with ink; sub-scan means for relatively sub-scanning the plurality of recording sections, the correction recording means and the recording medium in a direction different from the main scan direction at each main scan; image data dividing means for dividing image data into a plurality of sets of image data, each set corresponding to one of the plurality of recording sections to record a same area on the recording medium by a plurality of main scans corresponding to each of the recording sections; detection means for detecting an abnormal recording element among the recording elements in the recording sections; image data moving means for removing only image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element from the set of image data corresponding to the main scan for recording by the recording section including the abnormal recording element among the divided sets of image data divided by said image dividing means when said detection means detects that the abnormal recording element exists in the recording elements of the recording sections and moving the removed image data to correction image data corresponding to another main scan recorded by the correction recording means at the same area of the recording medium; and record control means for, when the abnormal recording element is detected by said detection means, recording by driving the recording section to which the abnormal recording element belongs at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means, and recording the removed image data by driving the correction recording means on the same area as the one main scan at the other main scan in accordance with the image data moved by said image data moving means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 339 words

A recording apparatus comprising: main scan means for scanning relative to a recording medium in a main scan direction a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements and correction recording means to record on the recording medium with ink; sub-scan means for relatively sub-scanning the plurality of recording sections, the correction recording means and the recording medium in a direction different from the main scan direction at each main scan; image data dividing means for dividing image data into a plurality of sets of image data, each set corresponding to one of the plurality of recording sections to record a same area on the recording medium by a plurality of main scans corresponding to each of the recording sections; detection means for detecting an abnormal recording element among the recording elements in the recording sections; image data moving means for removing only image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element from the set of image data corresponding to the main scan for recording by the recording section including the abnormal recording element among the divided sets of image data divided by said image dividing means when said detection means detects that the abnormal recording element exists in the recording elements of the recording sections and moving the removed image data to correction image data corresponding to another main scan recorded by the correction recording means at the same area of the recording medium; and record control means for, when the abnormal recording element is detected by said detection means, recording by driving the recording section to which the abnormal recording element belongs at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means, and recording the removed image data by driving the correction recording means on the same area as the one main scan at the other main scan in accordance with the image data moved by said image data moving means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 15 words

A recording apparatus according to claim 13 , characterized by being used for textile printing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 340 words

A recording method comprising the steps of: scanning in main scans recording means having a recording element row of a plurality of recording elements for applying ink onto a recording medium in a different direction from that of said recording element row, relatively to the recording medium; sub-scanning said recording means and the recording medium relatively in a direction of said recording element row by a smaller amount than the total length of said recording element row after every main scan; dividing predetermined image data into sets of image data which are complementary to each other and supplying said divided sets of image data to different blocks of recording elements in the recording element row in each main scan to record said predetermined image data in a plurality of main scans by different blocks of said recording elements; detecting an abnormal recording element of said recording means, prior to each main scan; removing only the image data corresponding to the detected abnormal recording element from a set of image data to be supplied to the block to which said abnormal recording element belongs and overlapping said removed image data with a set of image data to be supplied to another block at another main scan to record at the same area of the recording medium; and recording, when the abnormal recording element is detected in said detecting step, by using the block of said recording elements to which said abnormal recording element belongs to record at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element is removed in said image data removing step, and for recording by using said recording elements belonging to the other block at the same area as the area recorded at the one main scan in the other main scan in accordance with the set of image data formed by overlapping said removed image data with the set of image data supplied to the other block by said image data moving means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 340 words

A recording method comprising the steps of: scanning in main scans recording means having a recording element row of a plurality of recording elements for applying ink onto a recording medium in a different direction from that of said recording element row, relatively to the recording medium; sub-scanning said recording means and the recording medium relatively in a direction of said recording element row by a smaller amount than the total length of said recording element row after every main scan; dividing predetermined image data into sets of image data which are complementary to each other and supplying said divided sets of image data to different blocks of recording elements in the recording element row in each main scan to record said predetermined image data in a plurality of main scans by different blocks of said recording elements; detecting an abnormal recording element of said recording means, prior to each main scan; removing only the image data corresponding to the detected abnormal recording element from a set of image data to be supplied to the block to which said abnormal recording element belongs and overlapping said removed image data with a set of image data to be supplied to another block at another main scan to record at the same area of the recording medium; and recording, when the abnormal recording element is detected in said detecting step, by using the block of said recording elements to which said abnormal recording element belongs to record at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element is removed in said image data removing step, and for recording by using said recording elements belonging to the other block at the same area as the area recorded at the one main scan in the other main scan in accordance with the set of image data formed by overlapping said removed image data with the set of image data supplied to the other block by said image data moving means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

A recording method according to claim 15 , further comprising the steps of forming a recorded portion with the ink on said recording medium, and then fixing the ink in said recorded portion onto said recording medium.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

A recording method according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of washing the recording medium after said fixing step.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

A recording method according to any one of claims 15 to 17 , further comprising the step of providing a pretreatment agent in said recording medium before recording onto said recording medium.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

A recording method according to any one of claims 15 to 17 , wherein said recording medium comprises a cloth made of cotton or silk.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The recording method according to any one of claims 15 to 17 , characterized in being performed in a textile printing process.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 362 words

A recording apparatus comprising: main scan means for scanning in a main scan direction relative to a recording medium a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements to record on the recording medium with ink; sub-scan means for relatively sub-scanning the plurality of recording sections and the recording medium in a direction different from the main scan direction at each main scan; image data dividing means for dividing image data into a plurality of sets of image data, each set corresponding to one of the plurality of recording sections to record a same area on the recording medium by a plurality of main scans corresponding to each of the recording sections; detection means for detecting an abnormal recording element among the recording elements in the recording sections; image data moving means for removing only image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element from the set of image data corresponding to the main scan for recording by the recording section including the abnormal recording element among the divided sets of image data divided by said image data dividing means when said detection means detects that the abnormal recording element exists in the recording elements of the recording sections and moving the removed image data to another set of image data divided by said image data dividing means and corresponding to another main scan for recording on the same area by another recording section of the plurality of recording sections; and record control means for, when the abnormal recording element is detected by said detection means, recording by driving the recording section to which the abnormal recording element belongs at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means, and recording the removed image data by driving the other recording section on the same area as the one main scan at the other main scan in accordance with the image data moved by said image data moving means to another set of image data to be recorded by another recording section at the other main scan.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 362 words

A recording apparatus comprising: main scan means for scanning in a main scan direction relative to a recording medium a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements to record on the recording medium with ink; sub-scan means for relatively sub-scanning the plurality of recording sections and the recording medium in a direction different from the main scan direction at each main scan; image data dividing means for dividing image data into a plurality of sets of image data, each set corresponding to one of the plurality of recording sections to record a same area on the recording medium by a plurality of main scans corresponding to each of the recording sections; detection means for detecting an abnormal recording element among the recording elements in the recording sections; image data moving means for removing only image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element from the set of image data corresponding to the main scan for recording by the recording section including the abnormal recording element among the divided sets of image data divided by said image data dividing means when said detection means detects that the abnormal recording element exists in the recording elements of the recording sections and moving the removed image data to another set of image data divided by said image data dividing means and corresponding to another main scan for recording on the same area by another recording section of the plurality of recording sections; and record control means for, when the abnormal recording element is detected by said detection means, recording by driving the recording section to which the abnormal recording element belongs at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means, and recording the removed image data by driving the other recording section on the same area as the one main scan at the other main scan in accordance with the image data moved by said image data moving means to another set of image data to be recorded by another recording section at the other main scan.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

A recording apparatus according to claim 21 , characterized by being used for textile printing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 312 words

A recording method comprising the steps of: scanning relative to a recording medium in a main scan direction a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements to record on the recording medium with ink; relatively sub-scanning the plurality of recording sections and the recording medium in a direction different from the main scan direction at each main scan; dividing image data into a plurality of sets of image data, each set corresponding to one of the plurality of recording sections to record a same area on the recording medium by a plurality of main scans corresponding to each of the recording sections; detecting an abnormal recording element among the recording elements in the recording sections; removing only image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element from the set of image data corresponding to the main scan for recording by the recording section including the abnormal recording element among the divided sets of image data divided when detected in said detecting step that the abnormal recording element exists in the recording elements of the recording sections and moving the removed image data to another set of image data divided corresponding to another main scan for recording on the same area by another recording section of the plurality of recording sections; and recording, when the abnormal recording element is detected, by driving the recording section to which the abnormal recording element belongs at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element is removed, and recording the removed image data by driving the other recording sections on the same area as the one main scan at another main scan in accordance with the image data moved to another set of image data to be recorded by another recording section at the other main scan.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 312 words

A recording method comprising the steps of: scanning relative to a recording medium in a main scan direction a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements to record on the recording medium with ink; relatively sub-scanning the plurality of recording sections and the recording medium in a direction different from the main scan direction at each main scan; dividing image data into a plurality of sets of image data, each set corresponding to one of the plurality of recording sections to record a same area on the recording medium by a plurality of main scans corresponding to each of the recording sections; detecting an abnormal recording element among the recording elements in the recording sections; removing only image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element from the set of image data corresponding to the main scan for recording by the recording section including the abnormal recording element among the divided sets of image data divided when detected in said detecting step that the abnormal recording element exists in the recording elements of the recording sections and moving the removed image data to another set of image data divided corresponding to another main scan for recording on the same area by another recording section of the plurality of recording sections; and recording, when the abnormal recording element is detected, by driving the recording section to which the abnormal recording element belongs at one main scan in accordance with the set of image data from which image data to be supplied to the abnormal recording element is removed, and recording the removed image data by driving the other recording sections on the same area as the one main scan at another main scan in accordance with the image data moved to another set of image data to be recorded by another recording section at the other main scan.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

A recording method according to claim 23 , characterized in being performed in a textile printing process.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 319 words

A recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium with ink; scan means for causing relative movement between said plurality of recording sections and the recording medium; detecting means for detecting an abnormal recording element among said recording elements of said recording sections; image data dividing means for dividing image data for recording a same area of the recording medium into a plurality of sets of divided image data which are complementary to each other, each set of the divided image data corresponding to one of said plurality of recording sections so as to complete recording on the same area by driving each of said plurality of recording sections; image data moving means for removing only image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element from a first set of divided image data to be supplied to a first recording section of said recording sections that includes said abnormal recording element when said detecting means detects that said abnormal recording element is among said recording elements of said first recording section, and adding the removed image data to a second set of divided image data to be supplied to a second recording section for recording the same area on the recording medium; and control means for causing said first recording section to record in accordance with the first set of divided image data after the image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means and causing said second recording section to record on the same area as the area where said first recording section records in accordance with the second set of divided image data added with the removed image data by said image data moving means, said first recording section and said second recording section completing recording on the same area of the recording medium.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 319 words

A recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium with ink; scan means for causing relative movement between said plurality of recording sections and the recording medium; detecting means for detecting an abnormal recording element among said recording elements of said recording sections; image data dividing means for dividing image data for recording a same area of the recording medium into a plurality of sets of divided image data which are complementary to each other, each set of the divided image data corresponding to one of said plurality of recording sections so as to complete recording on the same area by driving each of said plurality of recording sections; image data moving means for removing only image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element from a first set of divided image data to be supplied to a first recording section of said recording sections that includes said abnormal recording element when said detecting means detects that said abnormal recording element is among said recording elements of said first recording section, and adding the removed image data to a second set of divided image data to be supplied to a second recording section for recording the same area on the recording medium; and control means for causing said first recording section to record in accordance with the first set of divided image data after the image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element is removed by said image data moving means and causing said second recording section to record on the same area as the area where said first recording section records in accordance with the second set of divided image data added with the removed image data by said image data moving means, said first recording section and said second recording section completing recording on the same area of the recording medium.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

An apparatus according to claim 25 , further comprising means for moving said plurality of recording sections in a direction different from the direction of relative movement caused by said scan means.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 291 words

A recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium with ink; scan means for causing relative movement between said plurality of recording sections and the recording medium; detecting means for detecting an abnormal recording element among said recording elements of said recording sections; image data dividing means for dividing image data for recording a same area of the recording medium into a plurality of sets of divided image data which are complementary to each other, each set of the divided image data corresponding to one of said plurality of recording sections so as to complete recording on the same area by driving each of said plurality of recording sections; image data adding means for adding image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element in a first set of divided image data to be supplied to a first recording section of said recording sections that includes said abnormal recording element when said detecting means detects that said abnormal recording element is among said recording elements of said first recording section to a second set of divided image data to be supplied to a second recording section for recording the same area on the recording medium; and control means for causing said first recording section to record in accordance with the first set of divided image data and causing said second recording section to record on the same area as the area where said first recording section records in accordance with the second set of divided image data including the image data added by said image data adding means, said first recording section and said second recording section completing recording on the same area of the recording medium.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 291 words

A recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of recording sections each having a plurality of recording elements for recording on a recording medium with ink; scan means for causing relative movement between said plurality of recording sections and the recording medium; detecting means for detecting an abnormal recording element among said recording elements of said recording sections; image data dividing means for dividing image data for recording a same area of the recording medium into a plurality of sets of divided image data which are complementary to each other, each set of the divided image data corresponding to one of said plurality of recording sections so as to complete recording on the same area by driving each of said plurality of recording sections; image data adding means for adding image data to be supplied to said abnormal recording element in a first set of divided image data to be supplied to a first recording section of said recording sections that includes said abnormal recording element when said detecting means detects that said abnormal recording element is among said recording elements of said first recording section to a second set of divided image data to be supplied to a second recording section for recording the same area on the recording medium; and control means for causing said first recording section to record in accordance with the first set of divided image data and causing said second recording section to record on the same area as the area where said first recording section records in accordance with the second set of divided image data including the image data added by said image data adding means, said first recording section and said second recording section completing recording on the same area of the recording medium.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-01-16	2004-07-17	2005-01-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-01-16	2008-07-17	2009-01-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-01-16	2012-07-17	2013-01-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Recording apparatus and recording method

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