Technique for printing with different printer heads

A printing apparatus for recording using a printer head comprising:

• a RAM for storing a band of bit image data to be printed, the band comprising plural pixel arrays, each having a plurality of pixels;
• and
• an output means for reading, according to a predetermined pattern, a fixed number of data bits in a sequence of bit data from the bit image data stored in the RAM, for serially outputting and shifting the sequence of bit data to a shift register in the printer head, the shift register accommodating a different number of data bits than the fixed number of data bits, and for providing at least one control signal to the printer head so as to print an array of dots based on the sequence of bit data contained in the shift register with printout of at least some of the bit data contained in the shift register being disabled,
• wherein, the sequence of bit data output to the shift register is for printing an i-th pixel array of the image band, wherein a first m bits serially output to the shift register correspond to bit image data for an i-th said pixel array in the band of the bit image data to be printed, wherein a last n bits output to the shift register correspond to bit image data for an (i+1)-th said pixel array in the band, and wherein the printed array of dots corresponds to the i-th pixel array.

A method for printing using a printer which reads and then outputs to a printer head a fixed number of bits at a time so as to permit the printer to use a printer head having a number of nozzles which is different than the fixed number of bits, said method comprising:

• obtaining bit data corresponding to an image band to be printed, the image band comprising plural pixel arrays, each having a plurality of pixels, the pixels in each pixel array being arranged in a manner corresponding to a plurality of the nozzles in the printer head;
• a first loading step of loading into a register in the printer head bit data for m said pixels in an i-th said pixel array, m being a predetermined integer, and i being an arbitrary integer;
• a second loading step of loading into the register in the printer head bit data for n said pixels in an (i+1)-th said pixel array, n being a predetermined integer;
• and
• causing the printer head to print an array of dots based on contents of a register which includes the bit data loaded pursuant to said first and second loading steps, the printed array of dots corresponding to the i-th pixel array,
• wherein in the first loading step the m pixels of the i-th pixel array begin with the (n+1)-th pixel, wherein in the second loading step the loaded n pixels of the (i+1)-th pixel array are the first n pixels, and wherein the second loading step is performed after the first loading step.

A printing apparatus for recording using a printer head comprising:

• a RAM for storing a band of bit image data to be printed, the band comprising plural pixel arrays, each having a plurality of pixels;
• and
• an output means for reading, according to a predetermined pattern, a sequence of bit data from the bit image data stored in the RAM, for serially outputting the sequence of bit data to the printer head, and for providing at least one control signal to the printer head so as to print an array of dots based on the sequence of bit data,
• wherein the first m bits serially output to the printer head correspond to that said bit image data for an i-th said pixel array in the band of the bit image data to be printed, wherein the last n bits output to the printer head correspond to that said bit image data for an (i+1)-th said pixel array in the band, and wherein the printed array of dots corresponds to the i-th pixel array,
• wherein the output means serially outputs the sequence of bit data by outputting the m said pixels of the i-th pixel array beginning with the (n+1)-th pixel, and thereafter outputting the first n said pixels of the (i+1)-th pixel array.