US 9,039,128 B2 · Apparatus for and method of recording image

Abstract

An image recording apparatus includes a plurality of recording heads arranged in a staggered configuration in a width direction. Adjacent ones of the recording heads have respective adjacent nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto positions adjacent to each other in the width direction on a recording medium. For recording an image, a correction area rate less than a dot area rate of an input mage in a recording position of each of the adjacent nozzles is calculated from the dot area rate. Then, ink droplets are ejected from each of the adjacent nozzles in accordance with the correction area rate. As a result, the amounts of ink droplets ejected from the adjacent nozzles are limited. For a recording process using a head unit including the recording heads arranged in a staggered configuration, this suppresses the occurrence of unevenness in density due to an undesirable flow or bleeding of ink at the boundary between recording regions of the recording heads.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An image recording apparatus for recording an image by ejecting ink droplets onto a sheet-like recording medium, comprising:

a transport mechanism for transporting said recording medium along a transport path;
a head unit for ejecting ink droplets toward said recording medium transported by said transport mechanism;
and
a controller for controlling said transport mechanism and said head unit,
said head unit being structured to include a plurality of recording heads each having a plurality of nozzles arranged in a width direction orthogonal to said transport path, said recording heads being arranged in a staggered configuration in said width direction,
said recording heads in said head unit including adjacent recording heads having respective adjacent nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto positions adjacent to each other in said width direction on said recording medium,
said controller causing each of said adjacent nozzles to eject ink droplets in accordance with a correction area rate less than a dot area rate of an input image in a recording position of each of said adjacent nozzles.

4 more elements

A method of recording an image by ejecting ink droplets from a head unit toward a sheet-like recording medium while transporting said recording medium along a transport path, said head unit including a plurality of recording heads arranged in a staggered configuration in a width direction orthogonal to said transport path, each of said recording heads having a plurality of nozzles arranged in said width direction, said recording heads in said head unit including adjacent recording heads having respective adjacent nozzles for ejecting ink droplets onto positions adjacent to each other in said width direction on said recording medium, said method comprising the steps of:

a) calculating a correction area rate from a dot area rate of an input image in a recording position of each of said adjacent nozzles, said correction area rate being less than said dot area rate;
and
b) ejecting ink droplets in amounts depending on said correction area rate from each of said adjacent nozzles, said step b) being performed after said step a).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for and method of recording image

Life of this patent

Apparatus for and method of recording image

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10