Apparatus and method that reduces streaking by using a deformed data portion to not array dots continuously in the main scan direction of the print head in the end portions of the sub-scan direction

A printing apparatus for supplying print data composed of a multiplicity of dot information, comprising:

• a printing head having a plurality of dot forming elements arrayed along a sub-scanning direction, the printing head being configured to move relative to a printing medium in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, and print an image on the surface of the printing medium,
• wherein the printing head is configured to form a deformed data portion having concave and convex parts so that dots may not be arrayed continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing head in end portions, and at an end side of the sub-scanning direction of a main data portion of the print data supplied in every main scanning operation of the printing head, and the printing rate of the deformed data portion is capable of being changed.

A printing method for printing on a printing medium, comprising:

• moving a printing head sequentially in a main scanning direction and delivering the printing medium in a sub-scanning direction in a print unit of print data of n (n being an integer) lines,
• wherein the printing rate in a specified range near a joint side is changed in the main scanning direction so that a specified number of lines at the joint side of the print data may not be arrayed continuously in the main scanning direction, and that the joint side end portion lines may repeat concave and convex shapes.

A printing apparatus for moving a printing head and a printing medium relatively in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, supplying print data composed of a multiplicity of dot information, comprising:

• a plurality of the printing heads arrayed in parallel so as to overlap in the main scanning direction, having a plurality of dot forming elements arrayed along a sub-scanning direction, and being configured to print an image on the surface of the printing medium;
• and
• a deformed data generating means for generating a deformed data portion in the print data by forming concave and convex parts so that end portion dots of the print data may not be arrayed continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing heads in the end portion data of sub-scanning direction of the print data supplied to each printing head, and for generating the deformed data portions deviated in phase, and print data having deformed data portion deviated in phase are capable of being supplied to the plurality of printing heads, and the deformed data portions deviated in phase by the plurality of printing heads are capable of being overlapped and printed.

A printing method for printing on a printing medium, comprising:

• supplying n lines of (n being an integer) print data as a print unit sequentially to a plurality of printing heads arrayed in parallel so as to overlap in a main scanning direction;
• and
• moving the printing heads in the main scanning direction and delivering the printing medium in a sub-scanning direction, wherein a deformed data portion is created in the print data by forming concave and convex parts so that end portion dots of the print data may not be arrayed continuously in the main scanning direction of the printing heads to end portion data of sub-scanning direction of the print data supplied to each printing head, and the deformed data portions deviated in phase by the plurality of printing heads overlapped and printed to the plurality of printing heads by supplying the print data having deformed data portions deviated in phase.

A printing method for printing on a printing medium, comprising:

• supplying n lines of (n being an integer) print data as a print unit sequentially to a plurality of printing heads arrayed in parallel so as to overlap in a main scanning direction;
• and
• moving the printing heads in the main scanning direction and delivering the printing medium in a sub-scanning direction, in which a plurality of mask pattern data are created by deviating the phase of a basic mask pattern, a deformed data portion is formed by forming concave and convex parts so that dots may not be arrayed continuously in the main scanning direction in the end portion of the sub-scanning direction of a main data portion of the print data supplied to each printing head by the mask pattern data, the deformed data portions deviated in phase are supplied to the plurality of the printing heads, and the deformed data portions deviated in phase by the plurality of printing heads are overlapped and printed.