Ink jet recording apparatus and method capable of performing high-speed recording

An ink jet recording method of performing recording by using a recording head having a plurality of discharging orifices for discharging an ink, and a common ink chamber, communicating with said plurality of discharging orifices, for supplying the ink to said plurality of discharging orifices, said method comprising the steps of:

• dividing said plurality of discharging orifices of said recording head into a plurality of discharging orifice groups each having a plurality of discharging orifices for discharging the ink at substantially same timings;
• and
• discharging the ink;
• wherein the discharging step includes
• a first mode in which a first discharging orifice group of said plurality of discharging orifice groups ejects the ink, and thereafter, a second discharging orifice group of said plurality of discharging orifice groups ejects the ink, and
• a second mode in which said second discharging orifice group of said plurality of discharging orifice groups ejects the ink, and thereafter, said first discharging orifice group of said plurality of discharging orifice groups ejects the ink,
• wherein the first mode and the second mode are changed over in units of a period during which all of the plurality of discharging orifices are generally to be driven.

An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:

• a recording head having a plurality of ejection orifices for ejecting ink, and a common ink chamber, communicating with said plurality of ejection orifices, for supplying the ink to said plurality of ejection orifices;
• selection signal generating means for generating selection signals for sequentially selecting ejection orifices in units of continuously arranged orifices;
• drive means for generating drive signals for driving the orifices, selected in units of said continuously arranged orifices by the selection signals, in units of plural groups of orifices not adjacent to one another, in a predetermined drive order;
• and
• drive control means for changing the predetermined drive order for the drive signals generated by said drive means, in units of a period during which all said election orifices are generally to be driven.