Printing method, printing system, and storage medium having program recorded thereon

A printing method comprising the following steps of:

• preparing a printing apparatus that includes an element that is driven in order to form a dot, a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element;
• at a certain timing, forming a dot of a predetermined size by generating a first drive signal with the first drive signal generation section and by generating a second drive signal that is different from the first drive signal with the second drive signal generation section;
• and
• at a separate timing, forming a dot of the predetermined size by generating the second drive signal with the first drive signal generation section and by generating the first drive signal with the second drive signal generation section;
• wherein the printing apparatus alternately repeats a dot formation operation of forming dots on a medium, and a carrying operation of carrying the medium;
• wherein the drive signal that is generated by the first drive signal generation section and the drive signal that is generated by the second drive signal generation section are switched per each dot formation operation;
• wherein the printing apparatus further includes a cooling device for cooling the first drive signal generation section and the second drive signal generation section;
• wherein the printing apparatus can form dots in a plurality of sizes;
• wherein a drive pulse that is included in the first drive signal or the second drive signal is selectively applied to the element in accordance with the size of the dot to be formed;
• wherein, in a case where two or more of the drive pulses are applied to the element when forming a dot of the predetermined size,
• when one of the first drive signal generation section and the second drive signal generation section is generating the drive pulses for forming the dot of the predetermined size,
• the other generates at least one of the drive pulses for forming a dot of another size;
• and
• wherein, when forming a dot of a largest size, the drive pulse included in the first drive signal is applied to the element and the drive pulse included in the second drive signal is applied to the element.

A printing system comprising:

• a computer;
• and
• a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including
• (A) an element that is driven in order to form a dot,
• (B) a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element,
• (C) a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and
• (D) a controller that,
• when forming a dot of a predetermined size at a certain timing, causes the first drive signal generation section to generate a first drive signal and causes the second drive signal generation section to generate a second drive signal that is different from the first drive signal;
• and
• when forming a dot of the predetermined size at a separate timing, causes the second drive signal generation section to generate the first drive signal.

A printing method comprising the following steps of:

• preparing a printing apparatus that includes an element that is driven in order to eject ink, a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element;
• when the first drive signal generation section is caused to generate a drive signal for forming a dot of a predetermined size and the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate a drive signal for forming a dot of a size that is different from a dot of the predetermined size, correcting an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the first drive signal generation section, based on a first correction value that is associated with the first drive signal generation section;
• and
• when the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the predetermined size, correcting an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the second drive signal generation section, based on a second correction value that is associated with the second drive signal generation section.

A printing method comprising the following steps of:

• preparing a printing apparatus that includes an element that is driven in order to eject ink, a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element;
• when the first drive signal generation section is caused to generate a drive signal for forming a dot of a predetermined size and the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate a drive signal for forming a dot of a size that is different from a dot of the predetermined size, correcting an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the first drive signal generation section, based on a first correction value that is associated with the first drive signal generation section;
• and
• when the first drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the different size and the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the predetermined size, correcting an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the second drive signal generation section, based on a second correction value that is associated with the second drive signal generation section;
• wherein the printing apparatus
• forms a pattern for obtaining the first correction value on a medium by causing the first drive signal generation section to generate the drive signal for forming dots of the predetermined size, and
• forms a pattern for obtaining the second correction value on a medium by causing the second drive signal generation section to generate the drive signal for forming dots of the predetermined size;
• wherein an amount of the ink that is ejected in order to form a dot of the predetermined size is corrected based on the first correction value or the second correction value;
• wherein, when the first drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the predetermined size, a voltage of the drive signal that is generated by the first drive signal generation section is corrected based on the first correction value;
• wherein, when the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the predetermined size, a voltage of the drive signal that is generated by the second drive signal generation section is corrected based on the second correction value;
• wherein each of the drive signals includes a plurality of drive waveforms;
• wherein correction is performed such that an intermediate voltage of each of the drive waveforms in the drive signal generated by the first drive signal generation section or the second drive signal generation section is the same;
• wherein correction is performed such that an intermediate voltage of each of the drive signals generated by the first drive signal generation section and the second drive signal generation section is the same;
• wherein a dot of a largest size is formed by at least one of the drive waveforms generated by the first drive signal generation section and at least one of the drive waveforms generated by the second drive signal generation section;
• wherein a memory of the printing apparatus stores a third correction value that is associated with the first drive signal generation section and a fourth correction value that is associated with the second drive signal generation section;
• and
• wherein
• when the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the different size, the printing apparatus corrects an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the second drive signal generation section based on the fourth correction value, and
• when the first drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the different size, the printing apparatus corrects an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the first drive signal generation section based on the third correction value.

A printing system comprising:

• a computer;
• and
• a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including
• (A) an element that is driven in order to eject ink,
• (B) a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element,
• (C) a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element,
• (D) a memory that stores a first correction value that is associated with the first drive signal generation section and a second correction value that is associated with the second drive signal generation section, and
• (E) a controller that,
• when the first drive signal generation section is caused to generate a drive signal for forming a dot of a predetermined size and the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate a drive signal for forming a dot of a size that is different from a dot of the predetermined size, corrects an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the first drive signal generation section, based on the first correction value, and
• when the second drive signal generation section is caused to generate the drive signal for forming a dot of the predetermined size, corrects an amount of the ink that is ejected according to the drive signal that is generated by the second drive signal generation section, based on the second correction value.

A printing method comprising the following steps of:

• preparing a printing apparatus that includes an element that is driven in order to form a dot, a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, the printing apparatus alternately repeating a dot formation operation of forming dots on a medium while changing a relative position between the element and the medium, and a carrying operation of carrying the medium;
• generating a first drive signal with the first drive signal generation section when forming a dot of a predetermined size at a certain timing;
• and
• during the dot formation operation, changing the drive signal generation section that generates the first drive signal from the first drive signal generation section to the second drive signal generation section, and then when forming a dot of the predetermined size at a separate timing, generating the first drive signal with the second drive signal generation section.

A printing method comprising the following steps of:

• preparing a printing apparatus that includes an element that is driven in order to form a dot, a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, the printing apparatus alternately repeating a dot formation operation of forming dots on a medium while changing a relative position between the element and the medium, and a carrying operation of carrying the medium;
• generating a first drive signal with the first drive signal generation section when forming a dot of a predetermined size at a certain timing;
• and
• during the dot formation operation, changing the drive signal generation section that generates the first drive signal from the first drive signal generation section to the second drive signal generation section, and then when forming a dot of the predetermined size at a separate timing, generating the first drive signal with the second drive signal generation section;
• wherein, when forming a dot of the predetermined size at the certain timing, the first drive signal generation section generates the first drive signal and the second drive signal generation section generates the second drive signal;
• wherein, when forming a dot of the predetermined size at the separate timing, the second drive signal generation section generates the first drive signal and the first drive signal generation section generates the second drive signal;
• wherein the drive signal generation section that generates the first drive signal is changed per each period in which a dot of one pixel is formed;
• wherein an order of the drive signals that are generated by the first drive signal generation section and the second drive signal generation section is changed per each dot formation operation;
• wherein the printing apparatus can form dots in a plurality of sizes;
• wherein a drive pulse that is included in the first drive signal or the second drive signal is selectively applied to the element in accordance with the size of the dot to be formed;
• wherein, in a case where two or more of the drive pulses are applied to the element when forming a dot of the predetermined size,
• when one of the first drive signal generation section and the second drive signal generation section is generating the drive pulses for forming the dot of the predetermined size,
• the other generates at least one of the drive pulses for forming a dot of another size;
• and
• wherein, when forming a dot of a largest size, the drive pulse included in the drive signal that is generated by the first drive signal generation section is applied to the element and the drive pulse included in the drive signal that is generated by the second drive signal generation section is applied to the element.

A printing system comprising:

• a computer;
• and
• a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including
• (A) an element that is driven in order to form a dot,
• (B) a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element,
• (C) a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and
• (D) a controller that,
• when forming a dot of a predetermined size at a certain timing, causes the first drive signal generation section to generate a first drive signal, and
• when forming a dot of the predetermined size at a separate timing, causes the second drive signal generation section to generate the first drive signal;
• wherein the printing apparatus alternately repeats a dot formation operation of forming dots on a medium while changing a relative position between the element and the medium, and a carrying operation of carrying the medium;
• and
• wherein, during the dot formation operation, the controller changes the drive signal generation section that generates the first drive signal from the first drive signal generation section to the second drive signal generation section.

A storage medium having a program stored thereon, the program comprising the following codes:

• a code that causes a printing apparatus that includes an element that is driven in order to form a dot, a first drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, and a second drive signal generation section that generates drive signals for driving the element, to alternately repeat a dot formation operation of forming dots on a medium while changing a relative position between the element and the medium, and a carrying operation of carrying the medium;
• a code that causes a first drive signal to be generated by the first drive signal generation section when forming a dot of a predetermined size at a certain timing;
• a code that, during the dot formation operation, changes the drive signal generation section that generates the first drive signal from the first drive signal generation section to the second drive signal generation section;
• and
• a code that causes the first drive signal to be generated by the second drive signal generation section when forming a dot of the predetermined size at a separate timing.