Ink jet printing apparatus and method of controlling temperature of head of ink jet printing apparatus

A method of controlling temperature of a printhead of an ink jet printing apparatus that carries out printing by ejecting ink to a printing medium through nozzles formed in the printhead, the method comprising:

• a heating step of heating the printhead;
• a temperature detecting step of detecting the temperature of the printhead;
• a comparing step of comparing the temperature of the printhead with a predetermined first heating threshold temperature;
• a heating mode setting step of setting, before a printing operation, a heating mode in which the printhead can be heated if the temperature of the printhead is lower than the first heating threshold temperature;
• and
• a control step of executing said heating step to heat the printhead in the case where the heating mode has been set and in the case where the detected temperature of the printhead is lower than a second heating threshold temperature that is higher than the first heating threshold temperature.

An ink jet printing apparatus that carries out printing by ejecting ink to a printing medium through nozzles formed in a printhead, the apparatus comprising:

• heating means for heating the printhead;
• temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the printhead;
• comparing means for comparing the temperature of the printhead with a predetermined heating threshold temperature;
• heating mode setting means for setting, before a printing operation, a heating mode in which the printhead can be heated if the temperature of the printhead is lower than the predetermined heating threshold temperature;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said heating means to heat the printhead prior to the printing operation and between an end of a line and a start of a line subsequent thereto, in the case where the heating mode has been set.