# US 9,039,157 B2 · Image processing method and image processing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,157 B2 - Document ID: US9039157B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/742,576 - Filed: 2013-01-16 - Published: 2013-07-25 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-20 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takao Ogata; Noboru Kunimine - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039157B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/07: characterised by jet control (B41J2/205 takes precedence) - B41J 2/2107: {characterised by the ink properties (supplying ink in a solid state B41J2/17593)} - B41J 2/2132: {Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding (methods for local corrections by dot omission, image edge enhancement, or multi-pass mask selection G06K15/102; colour conversion H04N1/40)} - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract There are provided an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can shorten a drying time of inks in an edge region of an image, and can form a sharp image without bleeding of the ink applied onto the edge region into a blank paper. The image processing method generates applying data for forming an image on a print medium by a relative scan between print heads for ejecting a first ink and a second ink having the same color with the first ink and lower in surface tension than the first ink, and the print medium. The image processing method generates first data for applying the first ink to a predetermined region that is adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, and generates second data for applying the second ink to the edge region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing method for generating applying data for forming an image on a print medium by one or more relative scans between a print head for ejecting a first ink and a second ink, the second ink having the same color as the first ink and a lower surface tension than the first ink, and the print medium, the image processing method comprising the steps of: generating first data for applying the first ink to a predetermined region adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, wherein the first data does not include data for applying the first ink to the edge region and the second ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region; generating second data for applying the second ink to the edge region, wherein the second data does not include data for applying the first ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region and the second ink to the predetermined region; and generating third data for applying the first ink to the edge region, wherein the third data does not include data for applying the first ink to the predetermined region and the second ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region, wherein the first ink is applied to the edge region based on the third data after the second ink is applied to the edge region based on the second data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined region is a whole of the inside region inward of the edge region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the third data is used for applying the first ink to the edge region after applying the second ink to the edge region during a single relative scan. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein a quantity of the second ink applied in the edge region is smaller than a quantity of the first ink applied in the edge region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: generating fourth data for applying the second ink to the predetermined region on which the first ink is applied, wherein the fourth data does not include data for applying the first ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region and the second ink to the edge region, wherein the second ink is applied to the predetermined region based on the fourth data after the first ink is applied to the predetermined region based on the first data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An image processing method according to claim 5, wherein the fourth data is used for applying the second ink to the predetermined region after applying the first ink to the predetermined region during a single relative scan. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) An image processing method according to claim 5, wherein a quantity of the first ink applied in the predetermined region is smaller than a quantity of the second ink applied in the predetermined region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) An image processing method according to claim 5, wherein in the print head, a first nozzle row and a third nozzle row, in which nozzles for ejecting the first ink are arrayed in a first direction, are arranged in a direction crossing the first direction, and a second nozzle row, in which nozzles for ejecting the second ink are arrayed, is arranged between the first nozzle row and the third nozzle row in the second direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the print head is moved along the second direction from a side of the third nozzle row in the second direction to a side of the first nozzle row in the second direction, and the image processing method further comprising the steps of: ejecting the first ink from the first nozzle row to the predetermined region based on the first data, ejecting the second ink from the second nozzle row to the predetermined region and the edge region based on the fourth data and the second data, and ejecting the first ink from the third nozzle row to the edge region based on the third data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the print medium includes a non-absorption print medium not provided with a receiving layer for receiving the ink. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first ink and the second ink include a pigment as a color material. ### Claim 12 An image processing method for generating applying data for forming an image on a print medium by one or more relative scans between a print head for ejecting a first ink and a second ink, the second ink having the same color as the first ink and a higher permeability into the print medium than the first ink, and the print medium, the image processing method comprising the steps of: generating first data for applying the first ink to a predetermined region adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, wherein the first data does not include data for applying the first ink to the edge region and the second ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region; generating second data for applying the second ink to the edge region, wherein the second data does not include data for applying the first ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region and the second ink to the predetermined region; and generating third data for applying the first ink to the edge region, wherein the third data does not include data for applying the first ink to the predetermined region and the second ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region, wherein the first ink is applied to the edge region based on the third data after the second ink is applied to the edge region based on the second data. ### Claim 13 An inkjet printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium, comprising: a print head for ejecting a first ink and a second ink, which has the same color as the first ink and a higher permeability into the print medium than the first ink; a moving unit configured to relatively move the print head and the print medium; and a controller configured to control ejection of the first ink and the second ink such that (i) in a case of printing on a predetermined region that is adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, the first ink is ejected and the second ink is not ejected in advance of ejecting the first ink, and (ii) in a case of printing on the edge region, the second ink is ejected and then the first ink is ejected. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the controller controls ejection of the first ink and the second ink such that in the case of printing on the predetermined region, the first ink is ejected and then the second ink is ejected. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein in the print head, a first nozzle row and a third nozzle row, in which nozzles for ejecting the first ink are arrayed in a first direction, are arranged in a direction crossing the first direction, and a second nozzle row, in which nozzles for ejecting the second ink are arrayed, is arranged between the first nozzle row and the third nozzle row in the second direction. ### Claim 16 An inkjet printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium, comprising: a print head for ejecting a first ink and a second ink, which has the same color as the first ink and a lower surface tension than the first ink; a moving unit configured to relatively move the print head and the print medium; and a controller configured to control ejection of the first ink and the second ink such that (i) in a case of printing on a predetermined region that is adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, the first ink is ejected and the second ink is not ejected in advance of ejecting the first ink, and (ii) in a case of printing on the edge region, the second ink is ejected and then the first ink is ejected. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller controls ejection of the first ink and the second ink such that in the case of printing on the predetermined region, the first ink is ejected and then the second ink is ejected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The inkjet printing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein in the print head, a first nozzle row and a third nozzle row, in which nozzles for ejecting the first ink are arrayed in a first direction, are arranged in a direction crossing the first direction, and a second nozzle row, in which nozzles for ejecting the second ink are arrayed, is arranged between the first nozzle row and the third nozzle row in the second direction. ### Claim 19 An image processing method for generating applying data for forming an image on a print medium by one or more relative scans between a print head for ejecting a first ink and a second ink, the second ink having the same color as the first ink and a lower surface tension than the first ink, and the print medium, the image processing method comprising the steps of: generating first data for applying the first ink to a predetermined region adjacent to an edge region of the image and that is included in an inside region inward of the edge region, wherein the first data does not include data for applying the first ink to the edge region and the second ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region, and wherein the edge region corresponds to a boundary between a region in which the image is printed and a region in which the image is not printed; and generating second data for applying the second ink to the edge region, wherein the second data does not include data for applying the first ink to both of the predetermined region and the edge region and the second ink to the predetermined region.