Printing head, image printing apparatus using the same, and control method therefor

An ink-jet printing apparatus which prints an image on the basis of print data by scanning, on a printing medium in a direction cross to a layout direction of a plurality of printing elements, a carriage which enables to support a printing head having the plurality of printing elements, comprising:

• driving means for grouping the plurality of printing elements into a plurality of blocks every predetermined number of printing elements, and driving printing elements belonging to each block at the same driving timing;
• output means for outputting a default value signal that is a driving signal to drive a first block in the plurality of blocks;
• and
• driving order determination means for outputting the driving order of the plurality of blocks based on the default value signal,
• wherein the driving order of the plurality of blocks is changed according to the default value signal outputted by said output means.

A printing head used in an ink-jet printing apparatus which prints an image on the basis of print data by scanning, on a printing medium in a direction cross to a layout direction of a plurality of printing elements, a carriage which enables to support a printing head having the plurality of printing elements, comprising:

• driving means for grouping the plurality of printing elements into a plurality of blocks every predetermined number of printing elements, and driving printing elements belonging to each block at the same driving timing;
• holding means for holding a plurality of different patterns indicating a driving order of the plurality of blocks;
• and
• driving order determination means for selecting anyone pattern from the plurality of different patterns, and outputting the selected pattern as the driving order of the plurality of blocks,
• wherein the driving order of the plurality of blocks is changed according to the selected pattern outputted by said driving order determination means.

A printing head used in an ink-jet printing apparatus which prints an image on the basis of print data by scanning, on a printing medium in a direction cross to a layout direction of a plurality of printing elements, a carriage which enables to support a printing head having the plurality of printing elements, comprising:

• driving means for grouping the plurality of printing elements into a plurality of blocks every predetermined number of printing elements, and driving printing elements belonging to each block at the same driving timing;
• output means for outputting a default value signal that is a driving signal to drive a first block in the plurality of blocks;
• and
• driving order determination means for outputting the driving order of the plurality of blocks based on the default value signal,
• wherein the driving order of the plurality of blocks is changed according to the default value signal outputted by said output means.

A control method for an ink-jet printing apparatus which prints an image on the basis of print data by scanning, on a printing medium in a direction cross to a layout direction of a plurality of printing elements, a carriage which enables to support a printing head having the plurality of printing elements, comprising:

• driving step of grouping the plurality of printing elements into a plurality of blocks every predetermined number of printing elements, and driving printing elements belonging to each block at the same driving timing;
• holding means for holding a plurality of different patterns indicating a driving order of the plurality of blocks;
• and
• driving order determination step of selecting anyone pattern from the plurality of different patterns, and outputting the selected pattern as the driving order of the plurality of blocks,
• wherein the driving order of the plurality of blocks is changed according to the selected pattern outputted by said driving order determination step.