Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Controller
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-24
2001-05-15
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Controller
C399S012000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231155
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART
The present invention relates to a recording head and an image recording apparatus using the recording head.
In an example of an apparatus using a recording head having multi-nozzles, image data obtained by reading an original is converted to a digital signal, which is, in turn, processed and then supplied to a multi-nozzle head. The multi-nozzle head effects the recording operation. However, such an apparatus is not completely free from the non-uniformity of the output image, depending on the variation in the characteristics of the material of constituent parts or the variation in the manufacturing process of the multi-nozzle head.
In order to avoid these problems, proposals have been made in U.S. Ser. Nos. 271,299 and 480,041 filed Nov. 15, 1988 and Feb. 14, 1990, now U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,038,208 and 5,610,639, respectively and assigned to the assignee of this application, that memory means for storing correction data in accordance with the output characteristics of the individual recording head and means for correcting input image data in accordance with the stored data, are provided, so that the density non-uniformity are corrected thereby.
However, the correction data are stored in a ROM or the like which is separate from the recording head. The correction data themselves are peculiar to the associated recording heads, and therefore, they are provided only for the associated recording head, but, in the above proposals, an incorrect combination of the ROM and the recording head is liable to occur.
In addition, it is required that the recording head is supplied to the user necessarily together with the ROM exclusively therefor. In addition, this results in cumbersome work and handling in the manufacturing of the recording heads and in the exchange of the recording heads. This increases the manufacturing and operation cost.
Conventionally, an ink jet apparatus (ink jet recording apparatus) is widely used with a word processor or personal computer, in which the apparatus is used as a monochromatic (black) printer, and in which no halftone image is recorded, the halftone image being easily subjected to the influence of the density non-uniformity. Recently, however, a color ink jet recording apparatus is desired to be used with a color image reading apparatus, a color video floppy disk apparatus to reproduce a color photograph or a color copy.
In such a color ink jet recording apparatus capable of recording in plural colors, the improvement in the density uniformity is highly desired, because it is decisive for the image quality, since a half tone image reproduction is inevitable. However, the density non-uniformity can occur due to the variation in the dot diameter or the like because of the structure and/or the manufacturing process of the ink jet head (ink jet recording head). In addition, the nature of the non-uniformity is different for the individual recording head. From the position of assuring the reliability of the recording head, the recording head may be of a disposable cartridge type, in which the recording head is detachably mountable to a carriage of the recording apparatus. In this case, the recording head is relatively frequently exchanged. Since the corrections for the density non-uniformities are different for the individual recording heads, the adjusting operations are cumbersome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a recording head and an image recording apparatus having the recording head, wherein even if the recording head is exchanged, the printing non-uniformity of the recording head can be reduced or corrected.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording apparatus which is capable of recording color images in good order.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recording head and an image recording apparatus having the recording head wherein the necessity of a complicated adjusting mechanism for correction of the non-uniformity in the recorded image is eliminated.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an ink jet head having an ink jet ejector comprising plural ejection outputs that is provided with a non-volatile memory element for storing data representing characteristics peculiar to the ink ejector or data for correcting the characteristics.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus having a simple structure, and therefore, which can be produced at low cost.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of recording images stably for a long period of time.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a recording head and/or an image recording apparatus using the recording head having a novel function.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4313124 (1982-01-01), Hara
patent: 4345262 (1982-08-01), Shirato et al.
patent: 4396923 (1983-08-01), Noda
patent: 4459600 (1984-07-01), Sato et al.
patent: 4463359 (1984-07-01), Ayata et al.
patent: 4558333 (1985-12-01), Sugitani et al.
patent: 4723129 (1988-02-01), Endo et al.
patent: 4740796 (1988-04-01), Endo et al.
patent: 4741636 (1988-05-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 4794413 (1988-12-01), Yamazaki et al.
patent: 4801948 (1989-01-01), Kato
patent: 4827279 (1989-05-01), Lubinsky et al.
patent: 4872027 (1989-10-01), Buskirk et al.
patent: 4908635 (1990-03-01), Iwasawa et al.
patent: 4930915 (1990-06-01), Kikuchi et al.
patent: 4985760 (1991-01-01), Maeshima et al.
patent: 5023728 (1991-06-01), Nimura et al.
patent: 5024544 (1991-06-01), Taketani
patent: 5033887 (1991-07-01), Bäuerle
patent: 5038208 (1991-08-01), Ichikawa et al.
patent: 5038225 (1991-08-01), Maeshima
patent: 5039237 (1991-08-01), Tanuma et al.
patent: 5049898 (1991-09-01), Arthur et al.
patent: 5053866 (1991-10-01), Johnson
patent: 5107332 (1992-04-01), Chan
patent: 5235351 (1993-08-01), Koizumi
patent: 5610639 (1997-03-01), Takada et al.
patent: 5638097 (1997-06-01), Takayanagi et al.
patent: 0 294 288 (1988-12-01), None
patent: 0 315 417 (1989-05-01), None
patent: 0 317 268 (1989-05-01), None
patent: 0 346 647 (1989-12-01), None
patent: 54-59936 (1979-05-01), None
patent: 54-56847 (1979-05-01), None
patent: 59-123670 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 59-138461 (1984-08-01), None
patent: 59-190873 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 60-71260 (1985-04-01), None
patent: 63-276563 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 63-302060 (1988-12-01), None
patent: 64-75257 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 64-64866 (1989-03-01), None
Lonis, Robert A., “Storage of Operating Parameters in Memory Integral With Printhead”, Xerox Disclosure Journal, vol. 8 No. 6 Nov./Dec. 1983, p. 503.
Maeshima Katsuyoshi
Matsubara Miyuki
Matsuo Takayuki
Numata Yasuhiro
Takayanagi Yoshiaki
Barlow John
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Hallacher Craig A.
LandOfFree
Image forming apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image forming apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image forming apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2540860