Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080225308 | IMAGE STITCHING FOR A MULTI-HEAD PRINTER - Techniques are disclosed for stitching images printed by a multi-head printer in a manner that is relatively insensitive to misregistration of the image segments. When a pair of overlapping print heads print a pair of adjacent image segments which meet in a stitching region, printing at each location in the stitching region is accomplished by both print heads with a weighting that depends on the location being printed within the stitching region. In one embodiment, for example, the output of each print head is weighted by a linear function of horizontal pixel position. Techniques are also disclosed for selecting screening patterns for use when stitching is performed with variable-dot printers. Such screening patterns are selected to minimize variations in density that may arise as the result of cross-web and/or down-web misregistration. | 09-18-2008 |
20080239337 | DATA PROCESSING METHOD, DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, MASK GENERATION METHOD, AND MASK PATTERN - The present invention provides a mask for divided printing that completes an image by plural scans using inks of different plural inks, the mask being able to suppress possible grains during printing to reduce image degradation resulting from beading. If for example, among the print permitting pixels for which the total repulsive potential is to be calculated, a print permitting pixel Do has the highest total repulsive potential, changes in repulsive potential after movement of the pixels are determined and the print permitting pixel Do is moved to a pixel having the lowest total repulsive potential after the movement. This processing is repeated to enable a reduction in the total energy of the entire plane. Consequently, the print permitting pixels are appropriately dispersed in overlapping plane masks so as to have few low frequency components. | 10-02-2008 |
20080259361 | High quality halftone process - The invention provides a printing method of printing on a printing medium. The method includes: generating dot data that represents state of dot formation at each print pixel of a print image to be formed on the printing medium by performing a halftone process on image data that represents an input tone value of each pixel making up an original image; providing a print head capable of selectively forming N types of dots having mutually different sizes on a region of one pixel on the printing medium, N being an integer of at least 2; and generating the print image according to the dot data by mutually combining a plurality of dot groups in a common print region, each of the plurality of dot groups being formed on each of a plurality of pixel groups that assume mutually physical differences in a process of dot formation. The generating dot data includes: executing the halftone process by using an error diffusion method with respect to smaller-size-side dot among the N types of dots; and executing the halftone process by using a dither method with respect to larger-size-side dot among the N types of dots, a condition of halftone process of the dither method being set such that all of the dot groups have a first predetermined characteristic. | 10-23-2008 |
20080291472 | Line Head and Image Forming Apparatus Incorporating the Same - In a line head, a plurality of element arrays arranged in a first direction. Each array includes a plurality of light emission elements arrayed in a second direction which is perpendicularly to the first direction, The light emission elements emit light for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive surface of an image carrier. A switcher activates the light emission elements in at least one of the element arrays while deactivating the others. A developer develops the latent image as a visible image with toner. | 11-27-2008 |
20080291473 | IMAGE DATA GENERATING METHOD, PRINTING METHOD, IMAGE DATA GENERATING APPARATUS, AND PRINTER - A head in a printer has an outlet row including a plurality of outlets arranged in a width direction perpendicular to a scan direction. A threshold matrix is stored in a main body control part, and sleep elements representing sleep of ejection of ink are arranged in the threshold matrix at a regular interval in each element row which is a plurality of elements arranged in a row direction corresponding to the width direction. The threshold matrix is compared with a grayscale original image to generate data of a halftone image where during printing, the number of outlets included in each outlet group not brought into sleep state continuously in the width direction is made equal to or larger than 1 and equal to or smaller than a predetermined number. Thus, it is possible to easily suppress occurrence of unevenness in a printed image, caused by cross talk between outlets. | 11-27-2008 |
20080316509 | Print apparatus, server, method for improving print characteristics, and computer program therefor - A print apparatus connected to a server via a network includes an improvement-information requesting unit configured to notify the server via the network of identification information unique to a print head; an improvement-information storage unit configured to store downloaded head-characteristic-improvement information; and a print processor configured to perform a print operation by referring to the head-characteristic-improvement information stored in the improvement-information storage unit. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002727 | Printer Controller For A Printer Printing According To Print Quality Information Supplied By A Print Cartridge - The invention provides for a printer controller for a pagewidth printer having a printhead configured to print ink supplied from an ink cartridge with print quality information. The controller includes a processor having an address, data and control bus, an expander unit and a decoder unit each coupled to the bus and configured to respectively decompress a bi-level black layer and a continuous tone (contone) layer of a page to be printed. The controller also includes a replaceable ink cartridge comprising a first integrated circuit (IC) containing the print quality information and which is configured to be interfaced to the processor. The controller further includes a second IC interfaced to the processor which is configured to count a number of drops of ink printed by the printhead, to update a remaining drop count of the ink cartridge using the counted drops printed and then write an updated remaining drop count to the second IC each time a page has been printed. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002728 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An object of this invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing slanting displacement for high-quality image. To achieve this object, slant information of a printing element array ( | 01-01-2009 |
20090002729 | DATA TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - A data transmission apparatus transmits data relating to an image to be recorded on a recording medium to an ink-jet recording apparatus including a line-type ink-jet head which is formed with an ejection face having a plurality of ejection openings arranged in a matrix. A data generation unit included in the data transmission apparatus generates an image data block including a plurality of dot data lines each formed for each of the ejection openings. The dot data line is made up of a plurality of dot data elements corresponding to a plurality of dots arranged in a conveyance direction in the image to be recorded on the recording medium with an arrangement order of the plurality of dot data elements being according to an arrangement order of the corresponding dots in the conveyance direction. The data transmission apparatus further includes a data compression unit which compresses the image data block generated by the data generation unit, and a data transmission unit which transmits a compressed file generated by the data compression unit to the ink-jet recording apparatus. | 01-01-2009 |
20090015849 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - Development of uneven gloss is reduced when printing mutually adjacent printing regions with pigment ink while overlapping boundary regions each other. A joint section and a non-joint section employ mutually different image processing such that a larger amount of ink having a relatively higher gloss level is used in the joint section as compared to the non-joint section. In this way, it is possible to uniform gloss impression between the non-joint section and the joint section and thereby to reduce uneven gloss. | 01-15-2009 |
20090033953 | Interactive Flatbed Scanner - A flatbed scanner comprises: a platen for supporting a substrate and a carriage for traversing across a surface. The carriage comprises a pagewidth scanhead for scanning a pre-printed graphic image and a pagewidth printhead for printing a position-coding pattern onto the surface. The flatbed scanner further comprises an ink supply and a processor configured for generating association data. The association data indicates an association between a scanned graphic image, an impression identity and a plurality of positions. | 02-05-2009 |
20090040538 | Image Processing Apparatus and Image Processing Method - An image is classified into a letter/linework area, a specific image area, and a background area. An area that at least partially includes the letter/linework area but does not include the specific image area is set as a first area, while an area that at least partially includes the specific image area is set as a second area. In the first area, dots on each line are formed with one nozzle. In the second area, dots on each line are formed with at least two nozzles. This arrangement enables high-speed printing for images mainly consisting of letters and graphs, while enabling high-quality printing for images including photographs. | 02-12-2009 |
20090051943 | DUAL PRINTHEAD CONTROLLER ARCHITECTURE FOR INK QUALITY ASSURANCE CIRCUITRY - Dual printhead controller architecture includes a master central processor capable of being interfaced with a first printhead. A slave central processor is capable of being interfaced with a second printhead. Data transfer means is operatively connected between the master central processor and the slave central processor to permit communication between the master and slave central processors. A host link is operatively connected to the master central processor to permit the master central processor to receive page data from a host processor. Ink cartridge quality assurance integrated circuitry is connected to the master central processor. | 02-26-2009 |
20090059247 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - There is provided an image processing apparatus that generates print data for printing by an inkjet printing apparatus, based on a rendering command group that includes a rendering command for a vector image, comprising: a determination unit which determines, for each rendering command included in the rendering command group, whether ink having a predetermined property is to be used; a rendering unit which renders in a first memory a raster image corresponding to a rendering command for ink having the predetermined property is to be used, and renders in a second memory a raster image corresponding to a rendering command for ink having the predetermined property is not to be used; a lossy compression unit which lossily compresses the raster image in the first memory; and a generation unit which generates print data that includes the raster image in the first memory and the raster image in the second memory. | 03-05-2009 |
20090059248 | INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS AND PROCESSING METHOD THEREFOR - A printing apparatus prints by scanning a print head having the first nozzle array of a plurality of nozzles corresponding to the first dot size and the second nozzle array of a plurality of nozzles corresponding to the second dot size different from the first dot size. Each nozzle array has a plurality of groups each formed from a plurality of nozzles. The printing apparatus includes a print buffer for holding multi-valued data. A predetermined number of multi-valued data in the scanning direction of the print head are read out for each group from the print buffer. Dot data corresponding to a nozzle included in each nozzle array is generated from readout multi-valued data. The generated dot data is transferred to the print head. | 03-05-2009 |
20090066977 | INFORMATION INPUT/OUTPUT METHOD USING DOT PATTERN - It is an object of the present invention to provide an information input/output method that is capable of imparting different functions to dots of a dot pattern displayed on a printed matter, thereby, at the time of providing information from the dot pattern, recognizing directivity and speedily providing information and that is capable of checking an error relative to a dot layout state, and further, that is capable of enhancing security. Therefore, according to the present invention, the information input/output method is provided, and includes: defining as a block a rectangular area of a square or a rectangle, of a medium face such as a printed matter; while a straight line in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction configuring a frame of the block is defined as a standard grid line, providing a virtual reference grid point by predetermined interval on the reference grid line; laying out a reference grid point dot on a virtual reference grid point; connecting the virtual reference grid points to each other and defining a straight line parallel to the reference grid line as a grid line; defining a cross point between the grid lines as a virtual grid point; generating a dot pattern obtained by laying out one or a plurality of information dots, respectively, having a distance and a direction around the virtual grid point; reading such dot pattern as image information by optical reader means; numerically valuing the dot pattern; and reading and outputting information that corresponds to the numerically valued information from storage means. | 03-12-2009 |
20090086221 | WEB PRINTER - A web printer is disclosed. The web printer includes a print media cartridge carrying a wound length of print media, a platen extending away from the print media cartridge to support print media provided from the print media cartridge along a print media travel path, a stationary printhead mounted within the cabinet configured to print a pattern upon print media provided from the platen. The print media travel path from the print media cartridge to the printhead forms a straight line. Also, the printhead extends at least the width of the print media. Ink reservoirs are also provided for supplying ink to the printhead. A storage stores pattern image data. A data capture device captures an identifier carried by a web sample. The identifier is associated with one of the patterns. When an identifier of a web sample is captured, image data corresponding to the pattern on the web sample is supplied to the printhead for printing. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086222 | Printer Incorporating A Binding Assembly - A printer is disclosed. The printer includes a print media supply station for storing print media. The printer further includes a print engine station arranged to receive print media from the print media supply and to print on the print media. A binding assembly station is also included which is configured to apply adhesive along an edge of each sheet of print media after printed upon, and to compile the print media into a bound stack. A receptacle station receives the bound stack. The print media supply station, the print engine station, the binding assembly station and the receptacle station are arranged vertically. | 04-02-2009 |
20090097044 | DIGITAL PRINTING STATION IN A MULTI-STATION DISCRETE MEDIA PRINTING STATION - A multi-station discrete media printing system, comprising at least one digital printing station for imprinting objects, while they rest thereat, according to digital data supplied thereto. The digital printing station includes a digital printing subsystem, which cooperates with the system and includes at least one printhead that is operative to print an image or a pattern on each of the objects according to the supplied digital data. The digital printing subsystem preferably includes one or more printhead assemblies that are movable along at least one axis. | 04-16-2009 |
20090103115 | IMAGE PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING AND CORRECTING MAIN-SCANNING OFFSET IN IMAGE PRINTING APPARATUS - This invention is directed to an image printing apparatus which can print images without any halfway offset or obverse/reverse pixel offset at a low cost. An image printing apparatus includes a clock generating section which generates a dot clock as the basis of each pixel forming an image, an image printing section which prints a one-line image in a main scanning direction in accordance with image data with reference to the dot clock output from the clock generating section, and prints a one-page image by repeating in the sub-scanning direction one-line image printing performed in the main scanning direction, and a clock control section which changeably controls the frequency of the dot clock during scanning of one line in the main scanning direction. | 04-23-2009 |
20090109449 | Image Processing Apparatus for Printing Image, Image Processing Method, and Computer Program - An image processing apparatus for printing an image by recording a plural kinds of ink dots having different sizes on a print medium includes a print image placement acquiring unit which acquires placement of print images on the print medium, in which the print images are to be printed on the print medium, and a print data generating unit which generates print data representing a recording state of the plural kinds of dots on the basis of ink amount data representing ink amount which is recorded on the print medium, in which the print data generating unit generates the print data so that the number of recordings for a specific kind of dots of the plural kinds of ink dots has different values according to placement of the print image with respect to the same ink amount data. | 04-30-2009 |
20090109450 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM AND INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD EMPLOYED IN THE SYSTEM - An image forming system is provided that uses printing apparatus groups each consisting of a plurality of printing apparatuses. The printing apparatuses hold print heads each provided with nozzles arrayed in a predetermined direction, are arranged two-dimensionally to cooperate with each other in printing rasters extending in the predetermined direction. Two printing apparatus groups are arranged in a medium conveying direction. In forming images in areas divided in the predetermined direction, the printing apparatuses or print heads located on the upstream side and the downstream side are appropriately set to participate in the printing of the same raster. In printing for one divided area, when only one print head is used to reduce electric power consumption or when two print heads are used for faster printing or for higher print quality, a selection is made of a combination of printing apparatuses or print heads that considers the printed image quality. | 04-30-2009 |
20090122324 | DOT APPORTIONMENT TABLE SWITCHING PRINTER | 05-14-2009 |
20090135439 | Method And Apparatus For Printing A High Resolution Image With A Printhead In A Multi-Pass Printing Mode - A method of printing a high resolution image with a printhead in a multi-pass printing mode includes subdividing the high resolution image into a plurality of low resolution sub-images; subdividing each low resolution sub-image into a plurality of low resolution swath portions; and allocating an amount of a memory for buffer storage, the amount being only sufficient to store data corresponding to less than two of the low resolution swath portions. The method also includes, for each low resolution swath portion: halftoning each low resolution swath portion to generate a corresponding halftoned low resolution swath portion, the halftoning of each low resolution swath portion of a particular low resolution sub-image being performed independently of halftoning the low resolution swath portions of other low resolution sub-images; storing the halftoned low resolution swath portion into the amount of the memory; and printing the halftoned low resolution swath portion. | 05-28-2009 |
20090141293 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD - This invention corrects a print position error caused by the inclination of the nozzle array of a printhead without decreasing the printing speed. To accomplish this, print data of at least one column in the print medium conveying direction is read out for a predetermined number of bits from print data stored in a first storage unit. Print data of a plurality of columns read out in the reading step is written in a second storage unit which is higher in data input/output speed than the first storage unit, and can input/output data for each bit. It is controlled to read out print data belonging to different groups from a plurality of columns of the second storage unit, edit print data for a plurality of nozzles, and print based on the edited print data. | 06-04-2009 |
20090147276 | Image Recording Apparatus, Image Recording Method, Data Structure, Recording Medium, Data Processing Apparatus and Method - A compressed mirror data generator converts compressed data transmitted from a RIP server into compressed mirror data to be supplied to micromirrors of DMDS, and transmits the compressed data to an exposure unit. A frame data generator of the exposure unit decompresses the compressed mirror data, converts the decompressed mirror data into frame data, and supplies the frame data through a DMD controller to the DMDs, thereby controlling DMD micromirrors to record an image by way of exposure. | 06-11-2009 |
20090147277 | THERMAL TRANSFER RECORDING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMATION METHOD - A control section | 06-11-2009 |
20090147278 | Line Head and Image Forming Apparatus Using the Line Head - A line head includes a head substrate, a first light-emitting element group having first light-emitting elements, a second light-emitting element group having second light-emitting elements, a first wiring line disposed on the head substrate and electrically connected to the first light-emitting elements, a second wiring line disposed on the head substrate and electrically connected to the second light-emitting elements, a first connecting unit disposed on one side of the head substrate and electrically connected to the first wiring line, and a second connecting unit disposed on the other side of the head substrate and electrically connected to the second wiring line. | 06-11-2009 |
20090195793 | Integrated Printing And Display Device - A printing and display device comprises a housing having an ejection slot in a base wall thereof; a flat panel display disposed within the housing; a printer disposed within the housing, the printer including a printhead and a print engine assembly; and a chute provided behind the flat panel display for guiding print media behind the flat panel display to the printhead. The print engine assembly includes feed means for supporting and feeding paper along a feed path passing between the flat panel display and the printhead to the ejection slot. | 08-06-2009 |
20090231601 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, PRINTER, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes an image processing part configured to perform image processing for causing a printer to print document data, the printer having a nozzle head having a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group, the first nozzle group having multiple K nozzles and multiple nozzles whose positions coincide with positions of the K nozzles in a sub scanning direction, the second nozzle group having multiple nozzles offset in the sub scanning direction from the K nozzles. The image processing part is configured to perform the image processing so that K is prevented from being applied to and one or more colors related to the second nozzle group are applied to multiple dots corresponding to the second nozzle group in a single movement of the nozzle head in a main scanning direction with respect to a gray drawing object contained in the document data. | 09-17-2009 |
20090231602 | Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing method - An image processing apparatus that includes a storage component, sending components, receiving components, driving components, a detecting component and a sending control component is provided. The driving components are provided to correspond to each of the receiving components and each of the image forming components. Each driving component drives the corresponding image forming component based on divided image information received by the receiving component. The detecting component detects displacement between a position of recording medium and the areas formed by the image forming components. The sending control component controls so that the divided image information of an amount of information defined in accordance to the displacement detected by the detecting component is sent from the driving component corresponding to the image forming component of one of adjacent areas to the driving component corresponding to the other image forming component. | 09-17-2009 |
20090251711 | PRINTHEAD DRIVEN BY MULTIPLE PRINT ENGINE CONTROLLERS - A print engine controller configured to be coupled with others to drive an ink drop printhead comprising: an interface at which to receive compressed page data; image decoders to decode compressed image planes in the received compressed page data; a half-toner/compositer to composite respective strips of the decoded image planes; and a printhead interface to output the composite strip to a printhead, the printhead interface including: a multi-segment printhead interface outputting printhead formatted data; and a synchronization signal generator outputting a synchronization signal to couple print engine controllers to synchronize their respective strips at the printhead. | 10-08-2009 |
20090268217 | Integrated Printing And Display Device With Replaceable Ink Cartridge - A printing and display device for use with an external computer. The printing and display device includes a flat panel display for displaying images from the external computer; a printer including a printhead for printing onto paper; a display data connection for selectively connecting to the external computer to receive display data used to provide the images displayed; a print data connection for selective connection to the external computer to receive print data from the external computer; and a rear cover molding enclosing therein the flat panel display. The rear cover molding includes an aperture for receiving therein an external ink cartridge. | 10-29-2009 |
20090310149 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit that reads image data, a drawing data storage unit that stores object data comprising the read image data so as to allow the stored object data to be distinguished between a vector object and a raster object, a vector gray determination unit that determines whether each of stored vector objects is formed of an achromatic color, a raster gray determination unit that determines whether each of stored raster objects is formed of an achromatic color, and an output data creation unit that converts the stored object data into multicolor when the stored object data includes a chromatic color and converts the stored object data into monochrome when the stored object data is formed only of achromatic colors. | 12-17-2009 |
20090310150 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A dither pattern is formed in such a manner that threshold values 1 to 16 are dispersed in regard to the order of magnitudes of the threshold values. First, there is made a calculation of multiplying each value of the image data by a ratio of 1/2. Thereby, there is produced the divided 17-valued data where every value of all pixels is “2”. Next, binarization is carried out for the divided data by using the dither pattern. As a result, binary data at the first pass is obtained. Next, there is obtained the data by a product of a ratio (1/2+1/2) obtained by adding 1/2 to the above ratio and each value of the image data. Binarization is carried out for the image data by using the dither pattern. This produces binary data. Finally, dot data for the second pass is obtained by subtracting data from the binary data. | 12-17-2009 |
20090316164 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes a recording head having a plurality of nozzles and scanning in forward and backward scanning directions to form dot images on the recording medium, an imaging unit imaging an image on the recording medium, a detection unit detecting a positional shift amounts of the dot images and inclination amounts of the recording head based on calibration image data obtained by imaging two first marks and two second marks in a single view by the imaging unit, and a correction unit correcting a drive of the recording head based on the detected positional shift amounts and the inclination amounts of the recording head. | 12-24-2009 |
20100002245 | PRINTING APPARATUS - This invention is directed to a printing apparatus capable of simplifying the apparatus arrangement by using a common processing unit to execute different processes. To achieve this, a common processing unit is adopted to execute the first processing to perform multi-value/binary conversion of multi-valued data and the second processing to perform resolution conversion and thinning processing of binary data. In accordance with an instruction input from a user, it is controlled to execute either the first or second processing. An image is printed on a printing medium based on data obtained by executing the common processing unit. | 01-07-2010 |
20100046011 | RASTER-TO-SWATH IMAGE DATA CONVERSION PRINTING SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD - A printing system for printing an image swath by swath according to image data that is provided to an image memory buffer in raster format. The printing system includes a carriage that moves a printhead with a plurality of columnar marking elements based on input provided by an encoder and a printer controller for reformatting the image data and controlling the marking elements. The printer controller includes a direct memory access controller for extracting the data from the image memory buffer and rotating the data from raster format to column format, a plurality of stroke buffers for receiving image data in column format from the direct memory access controller, an encoder control portion for providing stroke firing strobes based on input from the encoder, and a printhead driver control portion for generating data requests from the stroke buffers based on input provided by the encoder and to provide signals necessary to cause the marking elements to print according to the timing of the stroke firing strobes. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046012 | LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD AND RECORDING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A liquid discharge head that is detachably attached to a recording apparatus includes a liquid discharge substrate, a planar region including a plurality of connection terminals that electrically connect the liquid discharge head to the recording apparatus by sliding relative to the recording apparatus while turning when mounted on the recording apparatus, and definition portions defining a rotational center. The planar region is disposed parallel to the rotational center. Among the plurality of connection terminals, the connection terminal disposed closer to the rotational center is longer in a direction perpendicular to the rotational center and parallel to the planar region than the connection terminal disposed more distant from the rotational center. | 02-25-2010 |
20100073696 | Page Expansion And Printing Method - A page expansion and printing method includes the steps of receiving a first page description into a first memory buffer, the first page description having a bio-level black layer and a contone CMYK layer; decompressing the bi-level black layer and the contone CMYK layer in parallel; half-toning the contone CMYK layer to bi-level CMYK; compositing the bi-level black layer over the bi-level CMYK layer to form a printable image; and transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer for printing by the pagewidth printer. The step of transmitting the printable image to a second memory buffer is performed simultaneously with receiving a subsequent page description in the first memory buffer. | 03-25-2010 |
20100103437 | COATINGS FOR LEP PRINTERS, LEP PRINTER STRUCTURES, LEP PRINTERS, AND METHODS OF INHIBITING SLUDGE FORMATION - Liquid electro-photographic (LEP) printers having a coating disposed thereon, LEP printers having a compound such as fluorosurfactant in the resin to make one or more parts of the LEP printer, and the like, are disclosed. | 04-29-2010 |
20100110454 | DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING PRINTER - A display device is provided having a flat panel display for displaying images, a stand for holding the flat panel display in at least one operative position, a printer comprising a pagewidth printhead for printing onto paper, the printhead being disposed so that the printed paper exits the device from a slot beneath the flat panel display, and a curved paper guide disposed beneath the flat panel display and external to the flat panel display and stand, such that the printed paper is urged horizontally as it exits the device via the slot. | 05-06-2010 |
20100118318 | IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image recording apparatus acquires, from image data, gradation information in a region corresponding to a connected portion at which recording chips are overlapped with each other, sets, based on the acquired gradation information, control information for controlling recording rates of respective recording elements of a plurality of recording chips that are connected in an overlapped state, and according to the set control information, generates, from the image data, dot data for respective recording elements of the plurality of recording chips that are connected in the overlapped state. | 05-13-2010 |
20100123909 | Device and method for driving liquid-drop ejection head and image forming apparatus - An OFF timing of a drive waveform is set to be concentrated on a position of the drive waveform where a long time with substantially no voltage fluctuation can be ensured, and a pulse present before the position timewise is sequentially selected and applied to a pressure generating element. | 05-20-2010 |
20100128288 | PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINTING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM - Provided is a printing apparatus that prints an image of a first colorimetric system that is constructed with a plurality of pixels by using dots having a plurality of sizes, including: a print head that ejects a printing material to form the dots on a printing medium; a color conversion unit that converts the image in the first colorimetric system to an intermediate image in a second colorimetric system that can be printed by the printing apparatus; a detection unit that detects edge pixels, which constitute an edge of the intermediate image, among a plurality of pixels constituting the intermediate image; a dot allocation unit that allocates dots having a predetermined size among the dots having the plurality of sizes to the edge pixels; and a printing unit that controls the print head based on printing data indicating the dot allocation to form the image on the printing medium. | 05-27-2010 |
20100134808 | PARTITIONING OF SHEETSIDE BITMAPS FOR TRANSFER FROM A PRINT CONTROLLER TO PRINTHEAD CONTROLLERS - Printing systems, print controllers, and associated methods of partitioning sheetside bitmaps are disclosed. A print controller in one embodiment connects to a plurality of printhead controllers that are operable to control a plurality of printhead arrays. The print controller includes an interpreter system operable to receive a print job, and to convert an image in the print job into a full sheetside bitmap comprised of an array of pixels. The print controller also includes a partitioning system operable to process the full sheetside bitmap to identify the pixels in the full sheetside bitmap designated for printing on each of the printhead arrays, and to generate a partitioned sheetside bitmap for each printhead array that contains essentially the pixels designated for printing on the printhead array. The print controller further includes an interface system operable to transmit the partitioned sheetside bitmaps to the printhead controllers associated with the printhead arrays. | 06-03-2010 |
20100157327 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A FEED RATE OF A PRINTER, AND PRINTER EMPLOYING SAME - A method of controlling a feed rate of a printer, and a printer employing same, wherein the printer includes a feeder motor driving a feeder mechanism and a transport motor driving a transport mechanism. The method includes receiving image data for a first item of print media in a print job, processing the image data to create printable image data, and determining an image preparation time that is a time difference between the time when the printable image data is completed and the time when the start of the image data is first received. The method then further includes determining a current feeder speed based on at least the image preparation time. Following that that determination, the method includes: (i) turning the transport motor on, and (ii) setting a speed of the feeder motor equal to the current feeder speed and thereafter turning the feeder motor on. | 06-24-2010 |
20100157328 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND DRIVING FORCE TRANSFER CONTROL METHOD - This invention is directed to a printing apparatus capable of reliably performing a driving switching operation using movement of a carriage. In the printing apparatus, it sometimes cannot be determined to which of a clutch lever or the cap of a printhead the carriage abuts against. In this case, even if the carriage abuts against the cap, a position where the abutment was detected is regarded as the temporary home position of the carriage. When a conveyance motor is driven to transfer its driving force to a desired engaging destination, the cap is retracted from the moving path of the carriage. The driving force of the conveyance motor can thereby be transferred to the desired engaging destination. | 06-24-2010 |
20100238460 | SERIAL PRINTER - Provided is a serial printer including: a reading unit configured to read a raster image from a manuscript medium; an analysis unit configured to derive a horizontal distribution of pixels darker than a background color of the manuscript medium in each band including a predetermined number of lines with respect to the raster image; a threshold derivation unit configured to derive a fixed threshold according to a length L of a section in which a cumulative frequency of the horizontal distribution of an edge of the band does not exceed a predetermined temporary threshold; and a movement distance control unit configured to reduce the movement distance of a printing head according to a section in which the cumulative frequency of the horizontal distribution from the edge of the band exceeds the fixed threshold. | 09-23-2010 |
20100245855 | DOT FORMING ELEMENT ARRAYS AT DIFFERENT RESOLUTIONS - A printing device includes a first array of dot forming elements disposed on a substrate along an array direction at a first array-direction spacing to provide a first dot forming resolution R | 09-30-2010 |
20100271641 | Common Base Lateral Bipolar Junction Transistor Circuit For An Inkjet Print Head - A print head circuit of an inkjet printer comprising a plurality of row heating elements arranged in a plurality of rows, a plurality of column heating elements arranged in a plurality of columns, and a plurality of lateral bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), each lateral BJT is connected in between and in series with a corresponding one of the plurality of row heating elements and a corresponding one of the plurality of column heating elements, the plurality of lateral BJTs have common bases, wherein the plurality of row heating elements and the plurality of column heating elements are selectively energized to heat ink in the inkjet printer in a desired pattern for printing media, and wherein each of the plurality of lateral BJTs operates to allow the corresponding row and column heating elements that are connected in series with the lateral BJT to be energized. | 10-28-2010 |
20100296109 | Information Extraction Apparatus, Information Extraction Method, Information-Extraction Computer Program Product, And Storage Medium - A reading control unit obtains image data pertaining to a printed material, in which information is embedded by printing multiple types of patterns in a matrix. A line-segment-sequence calculating unit calculates multiple substantially-vertical-line-segment sequences, each obtained by connecting substantially-vertically arranged patterns in the image data with a polygonal line, and calculates multiple substantially-horizontal-line-segment sequences, each obtained by connecting substantially-horizontally arranged patterns in the image data with a polygonal line. A search unit searches for a substantially-vertical lane segment and a substantially-horizontal line segment intersecting with each other for each combination of one of the substantially-vertical-line-segment sequences and one of the substantially-horizontal-line-segment sequences. An intersection-point calculating unit calculates an intersection point between the thus-found substantially-vertical line segment and the substantially-horizontal line segment as a position of a pattern. An extracting unit extracts the information embedded in the printed material by identifying types of patterns at calculated positions. | 11-25-2010 |
20100309492 | FLATBED PRINTER - An inkjet printer ( | 12-09-2010 |
20110007331 | HANDHELD PRINTER - A handheld printer that provides an appropriate application of ink to a print medium without a bulky and complex mechanical system for positioning a print head with respect to the print medium. A handheld printer according to the present teachings includes a navigation subsystem that tracks a motion of the handheld printer with respect to a printing surface and a print head controller that causes a print head to fire ink drops onto the printing surface in response to the motion and in response to an image contained in an image buffer. | 01-13-2011 |
20110013204 | Printer - An inkjet printer comprises a platen roller ( | 01-20-2011 |
20110013205 | IMAGE-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE-PROCESSING METHOD - The present invention provides an image-processing apparatus, including: a corrected value calculating unit configured to calculate corrected values by adding error values diffused from a pixel neighboring a pixel currently being processed respectively to a plurality of input values corresponding to the pixel currently being processed; a total value calculating unit configured to calculate a total value of all corrected values; a quantizing unit configured to quantize the total value; a distributing unit configured to calculate a plurality of output values corresponding to the plurality of input values by distributing the quantized value according to a ratio between each of the corrected values and the total value; and an adding unit configured to calculate respective difference values between the plurality of output values and the plurality of corrected values, and to add the calculated difference values to corrected values. | 01-20-2011 |
20110019210 | PRINTHEAD FEED SLOT RIBS - A print head ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110026047 | INKJET PRINTING SYSTEM WITH MEDIA ENCODER IN THE PLATEN - An inkjet printing system that has a vacuum platen assembly, a printhead assembly spaced from the vacuum platen assembly and a media encoder embedded within the vacuum platen assembly. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026048 | PRINTING SYSTEM WITH AEROSOL COLLECTION FROM BOTH SIDES OF MEDIA PATH - A printing system that has an inkjet printhead assembly for printing media fed along a media path, and an aerosol collection system for collecting ink aerosol generated by the printhead assembly. The printhead assembly is positioned on a first side of the media path and the aerosol collection system has a first aerosol collection opening positioned on the first side of the media path and a second aerosol collection opening positioned on a second side of the media path. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026049 | PRINTING SYSTEM WITH INK ACCUMULATORS FOR HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE REGULATION - A printing system with a printhead assembly with nozzles for ejecting ink, a plurality of ink containers, a accumulator reservoirs each having an inlet for connection to one of the ink containers, an outlet for connection to the printhead assembly and a fluid level regulator for maintaining fluid levels in the reservoir within a controlled fluid level range. The ink accumulator reservoirs are mounted at a fixed elevation relative to the nozzles such that hydrostatic fluid pressure at the nozzles is maintained within a predetermined range. | 02-03-2011 |
20110075161 | Apparatus for Jetting Droplet and Apparatus for Jetting Droplet Using Nanotip - The present invention provides a droplet jetting apparatus which jets fluid in a droplet shape. The apparatus includes a main body ( | 03-31-2011 |
20110080599 | PRINT APPARATUS AND PRINT METHOD - Even when print data whose print density is high is printed, lowering of print efficiency according to long print operation time is restrained. In a print apparatus for printing received data received from an upper apparatus by repeatedly moving a print head, an expanding section that expands the received data into print image data; a confirming section that confirms a print density of the print image data and confirms existence/inexistence of high-density print data whose print density is higher than a predetermined value; a determining section that calculates a print operation time in the case to print by moving the print head in a forward direction and a print operation time in the case to print by moving the print head in a backward direction and determines a print direction according to these print operation time; and a print controlling section that prints in the determined direction are furnished. | 04-07-2011 |
20110085185 | IMAGE STITCHING FOR A MULTI-HEAD PRINTER - Techniques are disclosed for stitching images printed by a multi-head printer in a manner that is relatively insensitive to misregistration of the image segments. When a pair of overlapping print heads print a pair of adjacent image segments which meet in a stitching region, printing at each location in the stitching region is accomplished by both print heads with a weighting that depends on the location being printed within the stitching region. In one embodiment, for example, the output of each print head is weighted by a linear function of horizontal pixel position. Techniques are also disclosed for selecting screening patterns for use when stitching is performed with variable-dot printers. Such screening patterns are selected to minimize variations in density that may arise as the result of cross-web and/or down-web misregistration. | 04-14-2011 |
20110090518 | DATA PROCESSING METHOD, DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS, MASK GENERATION METHOD, AND MASK PATTERN - The present invention provides a mask for divided printing that completes an image by plural scans using inks of different plural inks, the mask being able to suppress possible grains during printing to reduce image degradation resulting from beading. If for example, among the print permitting pixels for which the total repulsive potential is to be calculated, a print permitting pixel Do has the highest total repulsive potential, changes in repulsive potential after movement of the pixels are determined and the print permitting pixel Do is moved to a pixel having the lowest total repulsive potential after the movement. This processing is repeated to enable a reduction in the total energy of the entire plane. Consequently, the print permitting pixels are appropriately dispersed in overlapping plane masks so as to have few low frequency components. | 04-21-2011 |
20110090519 | CONTROLLER HAVING TAG ENCODER FOR PRINTHEAD - A controller for a printhead is provided having an encoder for encoding tags to be printed on a page. The encoder has an input at which to receive a tag structure template having at least one predetermined mark position, an input at which to receive fixed data bits, an input at which to receive variable data bits, and a dot generator which uses the input tag structure template, and fixed and variable data bits for outputting, for at least one mark position of a respective tag, a single bit indicating if a dot is to be provided at the at least one mark position, for the respective tag. | 04-21-2011 |
20110141495 | AUTOMATIC HIGH-PRECISION REGISTRATION CORRECTION METHOD VIA LOW RESOLUTION IMAGING - Method for automatically correcting alignment of printer writers using an imaging device such as a scanner for calculating a calibration parameter. The calibration parameter is used to adjust or maintain the alignment of the printer writers. | 06-16-2011 |
20110157610 | INK JET PRINT DEVICE WITH AIR INJECTOR, ASSOCIATED AIR INJECTOR AND WIDE FORMAT PRINT HEAD - The invention relates to a preparation process for printing of light patterns on a dark background, on a surface (S) moving along a direction, using a set of jets in a print head, comprising the following for each jet in this set of jets:—an estimate of the disturbance on the print quality of this jet, resulting from the lack of printing by each of a plurality of other jets in said head,—determination of a correction to the jet as a function of the previous estimate, to compensate said disturbance. | 06-30-2011 |
20110164260 | DUPLEX PRINTER WITH INTERNAL HARD DRIVE - A duplex color printer includes a pair of print engines mounted within the body in an opposed manner to define a print media feed path therebetween; a pair of print media trays mounted on either side of the body for respectively containing print media; a print media feed arrangement for feeding print media from one of the trays along the print media path into the other one of the trays; an internal hard drive for locally storing pre-rasterized documents; and an interface for facilitating user selection of a locally stored pre-rasterized document for printing by the pair of print engines. | 07-07-2011 |
20110164261 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus scans a recording head in a main scanning direction to perform time-division driving for a plurality of blocks of recording elements to perform recording. The recording apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding inclination of the recording element array with respect to a main scanning direction, a first changing unit configured to change, in units of recording elements, based on the obtained information, storage positions of recording data items that are stored in a storage unit and that are assigned to recording elements in each of groups, each of the groups including recording elements belonging to the blocks in the recording element array which are consecutive, and a second changing unit configured to change, in units of groups, based on the obtained information, the storage positions of the recording data items in the main scanning direction. | 07-07-2011 |
20110211201 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus is capable of forming an image on a recording medium by using a recording head including first and second recording element arrays for one color component wherein each recording element array includes a plurality of recording elements arranged therein. To perform, in a short time, processes including converting of multilevel data to binary data and assigning of the binary data to the recording element arrays, a multilevel data buffer stores multilevel data, a reading unit reads the multilevel data stored in the multilevel data buffer, and a production unit produces binary data from the multilevel data by using a code table including a plurality of code sets depending on a gray level wherein each code set includes codes corresponding to the first and second recording element arrays. A transferring unit transfers the binary data produced by the production unit to corresponding recording element arrays. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211202 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRINTING A WRAPPER STRIP - An apparatus for printing a banding strip for documents of value, which is preferably moved relative to the apparatus, having a print head by means of which, upon an activation, more than nine dots can be printed, a circuit actuatable by print signals, which, in response to print signals, activates the print head in accordance with the print signals, in order to print patterns specified by the print signals, and a current supply unit for providing current for the circuit and by means thereof for the print head. | 09-01-2011 |
20110222079 | PRINT HEAD ARRAY - A printing apparatus including at least one print head array coupled to the printing apparatus, a servicing station configured to service the at least one print head array, and a print controller software coupled to computer readable medium and the print controller software configured to perform the steps of moving the at least one print head array to the servicing station when at least one occurs from the group consisting of a nozzle head crash, a clogged nozzle, a failure of a print head, a misalignment, and the image quality defect value is above a threshold value and configuring at least one additional print head array to continue a print job started by the at least one print head array when the at least one print head array is at a position following the at least one print head array and the at least one additional print head array is functional. | 09-15-2011 |
20110228289 | INKJET PRINTER - An inkjet printer A includes: a casing | 09-22-2011 |
20110235068 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING PRINTING QUALITY AND RELATED PRINTING SYSTEM - A method for improving printing quality is disclosed. The method includes an application device transmitting an original image including a plurality of printing pixels to a driving device, the driving device setting the plurality of printing pixels as a plurality of first printing dots, the driving device detecting an edge of the original image, the driving device setting a plurality of second printing dots according to a plurality of neighboring pixels corresponding to the edge, and the driving device generating an image to be printed according to the plurality of first printing dots and the plurality of second printing dots. | 09-29-2011 |
20110235069 | INKJET PRINTER - An object is to shorten the printing time of an inkjet printer capable of forming a plurality of ink layers on a medium. An inkjet printer ( | 09-29-2011 |
20110261373 | DATA GENERATION APPARATUS, PRINTING APPARATUS AND DATA GENERATION METHOD - When a feeding amount for multi-pass printing is changed, the purpose related to an image quality using a binary data generation pattern can still be attained by, for example, a density pattern method. Specifically, a multi-pass printing mode is identified, and a density pattern selection matrix associated with a cycle of binary data generation is selected in accordance with the selected printing mode. That is, a density pattern selection matrix employed for binary data generation using a density pattern is changed to a size corresponding to the feeding amount designated by the selected printing mode. Thereby, a phenomenon that a unit used for image processing to gain a predetermined purpose related to an image quality does not match a unit area used for a printing operation is avoided, and an image printing purpose using a binary data generation pattern can be appropriately attained. | 10-27-2011 |
20110273729 | FLUID EJECTION DEVICE, PROGRAM, AND FLUID EJECTION METHOD - A fluid ejection device includes first, second and third nozzle rows for forming first, second and third band images, respectively. The fluid ejection device forms an image in which an edge portion at one side in a prescribed direction in the first band image overlaps an edge portion at the other side in the second band image, and an edge portion at one side in the second band image overlaps an edge portion at the other side in the third band image. The fluid ejection device carries out a halftoning process whereby a center area of a dither mask equal in size to the input data for forming a band image but having a smaller dot generation rate in the edge areas than in the center area is associated with the input data for forming the edge portion to the other side of the first band image. | 11-10-2011 |
20110286013 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus using a recording head having a first recording element array and a second recording element array for one color component includes a first memory configured to store a plurality of first patterns which correspond to first, second, and third gradation values and in which dot data is allocated to the first recording element array or the second recording element array, a second pattern which corresponds to fourth gradation value and in which dot data is allocated to the first recording element array, and a third pattern corresponds to fifth gradation value and in which dot data is allocated to the second recording element array, a data acquisition unit configured to acquire multi-valued data at the first, the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth gradation value, a generation unit configured to generate dot data based on the multi-valued data generated by the acquisition unit. | 11-24-2011 |
20120013920 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND DATA TRANSFER METHOD - In a printing apparatus, in a case where the number of data pieces included in divided block data and indicating driving of printing elements is greater than a predetermined number, the divided block data is converted into first serial data indicating whether or not to drive each printing element belonging to a block corresponding to the divided block data. In a case where the number of data pieces included in the divided block data and indicating driving of printing elements is less than or equal to the predetermined number, the divided block data is converted into second serial data that indicates at least one of the printing elements to be driven among the printing elements belonging to a block corresponding to the divided block data and has a smaller number of bits than the first serial data. Then, the first or the second serial data is transferred to the printhead. | 01-19-2012 |
20120062908 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE-PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device includes: a process section; a generation section; and a supply section. The process section includes: an index value determination section; and an adjustment section. The index value determination section is configured to determine an index value for each of a plurality of target pixels included in edge image data. The adjustment section is configured not to adjust a pixel value of the target pixel in a first case where the density of the target pixel is determined to be relatively low based on the index value of the target pixel, and configured to adjust the pixel value of the target pixel so as to reduce the density of the target pixel in a second case where the density of the target pixel is determined to be relatively high based on the index value of the target pixel. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062909 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE - An image processing device may perform an analysis by utilizing target data representing a target image of a print target, so as to select, from among a plurality of types of print orders for printing the target image, one type of print order in which a print of the target image is presumed to be completed in the shortest time period. In each of the plurality of types of print orders, an area in the target image to be printed by the initial main scanning of the print head may be mutually different. The image processing device may create print data by utilizing the target data for causing a print performing unit to perform the print of the target image according to the selected one type of print order, and supply the print data to the print performing unit. | 03-15-2012 |
20120188564 | RECORDING METHOD AND RECORDING APPARATUS - P recording heads are arranged a recording unit. The P recording heads are divided into N (groups in the sub-scanning direction. The N controllers respectively control the recording heads pertaining to corresponding groups. When it is determined that variable data straddles a boundary (M/S boundary line) of recording regions (a master recording region and a slave recording region) of the recording heads, which are controlled by different controllers, the feed quantity of the recording unit is adjusted to a feeding quantity such that the variable data do not straddle the M/S boundary line. | 07-26-2012 |
20120206740 | PRINTER AND POWER SUPPLY DEVICE FOR A PRINTER - A printer for performing a printing operation with a printing head is disclosed. The printer comprises: a load power supply configured to supply a printing current to the printing head through a head drive circuit; and a logic power supply configured to supply a current to a control unit. The control unit is configured to transmit a print signal to the head drive circuit to control the printing head. The load power supply and the logic power supply are separately generated by performing independent AC-DC conversions of an AC power supply. | 08-16-2012 |
20120236330 | PRINTING AND PRINT DATA GENERATING DEVICES, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA FOR STORING GENERATING INSTRUCTIONS, AND METHODS OF GENERATING PRINT DATA - A print data generating device includes an image orientation selecting portion and a print data generating portion. The image orientation selecting portion may select one image orientation of an image to be printed from several image orientations by using partial image data. The print data generating portion may generate print data for printing the image according to the one image orientation. Each image orientation may be with respect to a conveying direction. Each partial image data may correspond to a respective image orientation, a respective partial image, and a respective portion of the image to be printed. Each partial image may be printed in an area defined by a particular distance determined from a corresponding edge of the printing medium. The particular distance may be based on a distance between a location of a downstream roller and a location of a most-upstream nozzle for a printer in the conveying direction. | 09-20-2012 |
20120250040 | RECORDING POSITION ERROR MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - A recording position error measurement apparatus includes a read image signal acquisition device and a signal processing device having: a dividing device which divides pixel series of the read image signal into sequences having different remainder values so as to generate image signals of the respective sequences; a prediction signal generation device which calculates regular prediction signals which are predicted with respect to the respective sequences, according to the read image signal; a threshold value determination device which determines tone value differences corresponding to respective distances representing recording position errors from the prediction signals, and which determines threshold values corresponding respectively to the recording position errors, from the tone value differences; a change signal calculation device which calculates a change signal indicating a difference between the prediction signal and the image signal of each of the sequences; and an error distance calculation device which specifies the recording position errors of the plurality of recording elements in the recording head according to comparing the change signal with each of the threshold values. | 10-04-2012 |
20120262736 | DATA PROCESSOR, DATA PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - Provided are a data processing method and a data processor for ink jet printing, which are capable of achieving uniform and high-quality images while stabilizing density and color development in each of pixels. To this end, a mask pattern for setting permission and non-permission to print dots in each area is arranged non-periodically by using an integral multiple of m×n areas as one unit. The m×n areas allow one pixel to be expressed in half-tone. Thereby, density in the pixel is stable since a plurality of dots printed in the same pixel are printed approximately in the same event. Moreover, since each of the units (clusters) is non-periodically arranged, a uniform image can be obtained. | 10-18-2012 |
20120281243 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND DATA PROCESSING METHOD - The present invention has an objective of providing an image formation apparatus that can output binary image data on a printing medium with a favorable quality. According to the present invention, a plurality of different pieces of mask data stored in a storage unit is used to generate a plurality of different pieces of divided data. Then, the frequency characteristic information of the respective plurality of generated thinned images is calculated. Thereafter, the pieces of frequency characteristic information of the respective plurality of generated thinned images are compared to select, from among the plurality of pieces of mask data stored in the storage unit, a divided mask pattern to be used for the input image data. Then, the selected divided mask pattern is used to form the image. | 11-08-2012 |
20120307263 | NETWORK PRINTER AND PRINTING METHOD USING SAME - A printing method, comprising: determining whether or not a printer is capable of executing a printing command sent from a user terminal to the printer through a first communication channel; requesting a cloud computer through a second communication channel to provide an information needed to execute the printing command if the printer is not capable of executing the printing command; and executing the printing command after the information needed to execute the printing command is downloaded to the printer from the cloud computer. | 12-06-2012 |
20130016369 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND PROCESSING METHOD THEREFOR - A printing apparatus which prints by scanning a printhead in two directions based on raster data containing multi-valued data, sequentially stores multi-valued data contained in each raster data in a print buffer in correspondence with a predetermined direction of the two directions, acquires for each raster data, identification information corresponding to the multi-valued data stored in the print buffer first and identification information corresponding to the multi-valued data stored in the print buffer lastly for each tone value based on initial values of identification information and the number of multi-valued data contained in each raster data, generates bitmap data from the multi-valued data using pattern data read out based on identification information selected based on a scanning direction of the printhead, and controls printing of the printhead based on the generated bitmap data. | 01-17-2013 |
20130057878 | PRINT CHANNEL IDENTIFICATION MECHANISM - A printer includes a print head having a first print channel to print data on each page of a print medium according to a first color plane and a second print channel to print data on each page of the print medium according to the first color plane. The printer also includes a verification unit to generate a first channel identifier to identify data printed by the first print channel and a second print channel identifier to identify data printed by the second print channel. | 03-07-2013 |
20130057879 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - A method including the steps of obtaining an original image, generating a converted image by converting a gradation of a pixel of the original image into a prescribed gradations for an image forming apparatus to express, outputting a dot pattern image through a nozzle based on a predetermined dot pattern signal, generating nozzle characteristic information of the nozzle based on the dot pattern image, generating simulation information based on the converted image and the nozzle characteristic information, generating converted simulation information by converting the simulation information to the same gradation as that of the pixel of the original image, comparing the converted simulation information with the original image, and calculating an error between the original image and the converted simulation information. | 03-07-2013 |
20130120769 | PRINTING DEVICE, PRINTING METHOD AND PROGRAM THEREOF - A printing device includes the following features. The first dot group in which dots are formed based on the first printing condition and the second dot group in which dots are formed based on a printing condition which is different from the first printing condition are formed together in a common region. In the common region, when the printing is performed in a plurality of conditions such that a difference of the dot pitch between a formation position of dots belonging to the first pixel group and a formation position of dots belonging to the second pixel group is 2/720 inch to 5/720 inch, the change in CIEL*a*b* of the printed image is within the preliminary determined range. | 05-16-2013 |
20130163010 | PRINT CONTROL DEVICE CAPABLE OF GENERATING IMAGE DATA USING PLURALITY OF ERROR MATRICES - A print control device acquires image data. Each pixel data has a gradation value represented by a first number of levels of gradation. The print control device acquires a first error matrix and a second error matrix and generates print image data representing an image by performing a halftone process on the image data using the first and second error matrices to convert each gradation value in the image data into a set of dot data. Each dot data represents one of a second number of types of dot formation. The second number is smaller than the first number. The print control device uses the first error matrix for pixel data corresponding to a pixel to be printed in a forward direction. The print control device uses the second error matrix for pixel data corresponding to a pixel to be printed in a reverse direction. | 06-27-2013 |
20130169980 | SWATHING PARALLEL PIPELINE ARCHITECTURE - Disclosed is a method of processing a print job, the print job being received in a page description language format. The method identifies a number of print heads on a printer targeted for printing said print job. The method processes the print job in the page description language format to produce a plurality of intermediate jobs, in which a number of the intermediate jobs is determined by the number of print heads. The intermediate jobs have an intermediate format between the page description language format and a rasterized image format. The method renders each of the plurality of intermediate jobs to a rasterized image in a renderer associated with each of the print heads independently of one another and external input. | 07-04-2013 |
20130194593 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - This invention generates a high-quality image by controlling the superimposition relationship between dots to be printed in multi-pass printing by a printhead including a plurality of printing elements. When a yellow dot is printed after printing a cyan dot in one scan in multi-pass printing, image data serving as a processing target is generated as follows. In cyan and yellow halftone image data for each scan, halftone image data having dots at a common pixel are set to correspond to a scan in which yellow dot data precedes cyan dot data. A yellow dot is printed as a layer lower than a cyan dot. | 08-01-2013 |
20130242317 | AUTOMATED CALIBRATION METHOD FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - A method for calibrating a print head for use in an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising positioning the print head over a calibration target, where the calibration target has a top surface with a plurality of edges. The method further comprising moving a tip of the print head to identify coordinate locations of the edges, and setting a calibration parameter for the print head. | 09-19-2013 |
20130258358 | GPU-BASED RIP ARCHITECTURE - A method of printing document data in page description language format using a plurality of graphics processing units. The plurality of tiles representing the document using the assigned graphics processing units are rendered in parallel with one another, and the rendered tiles are transmitted, bypassing the central processing units, from each of the graphics processing units to a corresponding one of a plurality of print head controllers, with the rendered tiles transmitted at a higher frequency than a frequency at which the plurality of tiles is output from each print head controller. The rendered tiles are repeatedly transmitted until each print head controller completes output of the previous band. | 10-03-2013 |
20130271774 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTER DRIVER - An object of this invention is to increase the transfer rate of image data from a host computer to a printing apparatus. To achieve this object, a printing apparatus which divides the printing area in the printhead scanning direction into a plurality of regions and prints in each divided region in order to print by scanning the printhead on the printing medium includes a conversion circuit which rearranges image data that is transmitted from the host computer and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the data arrangement of the printhead, into image data in the same horizontal direction as the data arrangement direction of the printhead. | 10-17-2013 |
20130278950 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN APPARATUS FOR PRINTING AND/OR SCANNING AN OBJECT - The invention relates to a method for controlling an apparatus, in particular a marking apparatus and/or a scanning apparatus, for printing a digital image on an object and/or scanning an object to create a digital image of the object, wherein the digital image comprises pixels arranged in image columns and image rows, wherein the apparatus comprises an operating head having a plurality of operating devices, in particular marking devices and/or sensing devices, wherein the object is moved relative to the operating head in an advance direction, in which the pixel values are transferred between the operating devices and an image storage comprising storing elements arranged in storage columns and storage rows for storing pixel values, particularly in which the operating devices are time dependently supplied with pixel values of the digital image from the image storage, and/or pixel values sensed by the operating devices are transferred to the image that the operating devices are arranged in an array of array rows and array columns, such that a rectangular pattern of the operating devices is formed, storage to form the digital image. The inventive method is characterized in the array of operating devices is tilted by a tilting angle with regard to the advance direction, and the operating devices are controlled according to a mapping algorithm that defines between which operating device and which storing element of the image storage a pixel value is transferred based on the tilting angle. The invention further relates to an apparatus for printing and/or scanning, to a computer program, and a computer program product. | 10-24-2013 |
20130329235 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND PRINT DATA GENERATING METHOD - Textures in a printed image are reduced with a configuration that, provided that a matrix made up of a plurality of dot arrangement patterns is treated as a unit, binarizes image data is repeatedly applying such a matrix to the image data. Specifically, when a shift value K=k, a shift process calculates X+kY for the position (X, Y) of each cell in a 4×4 base matrix. The dot arrangement patterns are then shifted overall such that the cell where the value is k from among these values moves to the position (0, 0). The shift process is conducted while setting different shift values for every repeated use of the base matrix. As a result, regular textures are decreased in the case of using a base matrix made up of a gradation value Lv1 on a pixel area. | 12-12-2013 |
20140043624 | DOUBLE-SIDED PRINTING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The disclosure provides a double-sided printing system and a control method thereof. The double-sided printing system comprises: a first generation unit for generating first printing data and a second generation unit for generating second printing data; a first data buffer area for receiving and caching the first printing data, a second data buffer area for receiving and caching the second printing data, a first print head for printing the first printing data on the first side of the medium, and a second print head for printing the second printing data on the second side of the medium. By means of the double-sided printing system, the data processing load of the controller of the printer can be decreased; furthermore, it enables double-sided printing without changing the application programs of a single-sided printing system, conveniently converting a single-sided printing system to be a double-sided printing system. | 02-13-2014 |
20140063513 | MODIFYING PRINT DATA USING MATCHING PIXEL PATTERNS - A method for aligning multi-channel digital image data for a digital printer having a plurality at least one printhead is described. One or more spatial adjustment parameters are determined for each of the printheads. The spatial adjustment parameters can be determined by comparing locations of test pattern indicia in a printed test pattern to predefined reference indicia locations. Digital image data for the non-reference printheads is modified by designating an input pixel neighborhood within which an image pixel should be inserted or deleted, comparing the image pixels in the input pixel neighborhood to a plurality of predefined pixel patterns to identify a matching pixel pattern; and determining a modified pixel neighborhood responsive to the matching pixel pattern. | 03-06-2014 |
20140092403 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Even in the case where input image data is binary data, dot arrangement appropriate for a printing apparatus is achieved to output a high quality image that suppresses an adverse influence such as density unevenness, stripes, or granular feeling. For this purpose, after the inputted binary data has been converted to multivalued data having lower resolution, a dot arrangement pattern that preliminarily specifies printing or non-printing for each of print pixels is set with being related to the multivalued data, and thereby new binary data is generated. At this time, the dot arrangement pattern is set to the dot arrangement appropriate for the printing apparatus, and therefore the high quality image that suppresses the adverse influence such as the density unevenness, stripes, or granular feeling can be outputted. | 04-03-2014 |
20140111817 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes: a reception portion that receives a first image; a selection portion that selects a head to perform pre-ejection; a generation portion that includes the selected head and generates patterns for detection of a transport speed of a sheet; an output portion that synthesizes the generated patterns with the received first image to output a second image on a sheet; a reading portion that reads the second image; an extraction portion that extracts the patterns from the read second image; and a control portion that analyzes the extracted patterns and controls the transport speed of the sheet at the output portion. | 04-24-2014 |
20140126000 | REAL-TIME LINE FEED MEASUREMENT OF INKJET PRINTER - Disclosed is a method of determining characteristics of a printer, the method comprising the steps of receiving print data, defining dot locations to be printed on a print medium, determining from the dot locations a dot frequency measure reflecting the number of dots to be printed on at least a part of the print medium, forming a simulated reference image of the print data comprising simulated dots corresponding to the dot locations in the print data, determining a size of the simulated dots in the reference image, this size being inversely related to the dot frequency measure, printing the print data on the print medium using the image forming apparatus to form a printed image, and determining characteristics of the image forming apparatus by comparing the printed image and the simulated reference image | 05-08-2014 |
20140153007 | SLANTED LENS INTERLACING - A method interlacing of images into an interlaced print file for controlling an output device. The interlacing method involves arranging a set of pixels in a line that is traverse but non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of a slant lens or lenticule. Each of these pixels is associated with a different frame/image, e.g., six or more frames are used in each interlaced image, with one being visible through the lens or lenticule at a time by a viewer. The slant lens interlacing method does not involve slicing each frame and the splicing these slices together. Instead, individual pixels from each frame are combined within a digital print file in a unique pattern to provide the non-orthogonal interlacing described herein (e.g., the new interlacing may be considered “matrix interlacing” or “angular-offset interlacing”), and a significantly larger amount of information is presented under each slant lens. | 06-05-2014 |
20140176966 | Print Controller Generating Print Data Causing Print Executing Unit to Perform Printing Operation - A print controller controls a print executing unit having a print head in which L nozzles are arranged in a first direction. A pitch of first nozzles in the first direction is set to a first predetermined nozzle pitch. The print controller generates print data based on image data. The print data causes the print executing unit to execute N pass printing. A pitch of lines formed through N pass printing is one N-th of the first predetermined nozzle pitch. At least one of the L number of first nozzles is unused for forming dots on the printing medium in each pass printing. Combinations of the first nozzles used in the N number of pass processes are different from one another. A movement distance of the print head when the first moving process is executed once is different from that when the second moving process is executed once. | 06-26-2014 |
20140192369 | AUTOMATIC PRINTING ADJUSTMENT METHOD FOR PAGE-WIDTH ARRAY PRINTING DEVICE - An automatic printing adjustment method for a page-width array printing device is provided. The page-width array printing device includes a printing module, a scanning module and a print region. Firstly, the printing module prints a print medium placed on the print region to obtain a printed image, and the scanning module scans the printed image of the print medium. Then, the printed image is transmitted from the scanning module to a processor. Then, a noise eliminating operation, a tilt calibration operation, a ROI selecting operation, a horizontal detection operation and a vertical detection operation are performed on the printed image. Afterwards, a calibrating result is feedback from the processor to the printing module. The printing conditions of nozzles of the respective inkjet head structures are adjusted according to the calibrating result. | 07-10-2014 |
20140192370 | IMAGE DEFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE DEFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - Disclosed is an image deformation processing device including: a shift amount calculating unit configured to calculate the difference between the coordinate of the input image which is mapped to the position of the specified pixel by the deformation process and the coordinate of the specified pixel as a shift amount, for each specified pixel in the output image; and an output unit configured to obtain the threshold corresponding to the coordinate of the specified pixel in the second direction from the dispersion threshold table, to calculate a pixel shift amount by comparing the obtained threshold with a decimal component of the shift amount for the specified pixel and by rounding the decimal component of the shift amount, and to output the pixel in the input image, which has a coordinate shifted from the coordinate of the specified pixel by the pixel shift amount, as the specified pixel. | 07-10-2014 |
20140198324 | UNIVERSAL PRINTING CONTROLLER - Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards a universal printing controller, and corresponding method, for universal printing control. A universal printing controller is presented herein which may provide instructions and/or control functionality to printers of various print technologies. Based on a particular print-head type, the universal controller may choose a print technology format from a variety of different print technology formats. The universal printing controller may also provide print instructions for printing an image description based on the chosen print technology format. | 07-17-2014 |
20140211221 | HALFTONING PRINTING WITH A PAGE-WIDE-ARRAY PRINTER - A page-wide-array printer has a print unit including an array of print-heads, wherein a printing direction is defined by a relative movement between the print unit and a print medium during a printing process. The page-wide-array printer receives a continuous tone image and divides the continuous tone image into a series of slices along a printing direction. Halftone image data is generated from each of the slices using error diffusion halftoning. The error diffusion halftoning comprises processing, with regard to error diffusion, each slice pixel-by-pixel following a processing pattern mainly oriented along a main processing direction which is parallel to the printing direction. The page-wide-array printer prints the halftone image data along the printing direction. | 07-31-2014 |
20140285828 | A METHOD TO DETERMINE AN ALIGNMENT ERRORS IN IMAGE DATA AND PERFORMING IN-TRACK ALIGNMENT ERRORS CORRECTION USING TEST PATTERN - A method for aligning image data printed on a receiver medium in a multi-printhead printer that includes printing a test pattern including features separated by predefined test pattern feature separations, where some features are printed with a first printhead and some features printed with a second printhead. An image of the printed test pattern is analyzed to determine a first camera pixel separation between two features printed with the first printhead, which is used to determine a camera scale factor. The camera scale factor is used to scale a second camera pixel separation between a feature printed with first printhead and a feature printed with the second printhead. The scaled second camera pixel separation is compared to a corresponding test pattern feature separation to determine an alignment error, which is used to adjust the alignment of the image data printed with at least one of the printheads. | 09-25-2014 |
20140285829 | MULTI-PRINT HEAD PRINTER FOR DETECTING ALIGNMENT ERRORS AND ALIGNING IMAGE DATA REDUCING SWATH BOUNDARIES - A multi-printhead printing system, including first and second printheads adapted to print on a receiver medium. An alignment process includes printing a test pattern including features separated by predefined test pattern feature separations, where some features are printed with a first printhead and some features printed with a second printhead. An image of the printed test pattern is analyzed to determine a first camera pixel separation between two features printed with the first printhead, which is used to determine a camera scale factor. The camera scale factor is used to scale a second camera pixel separation between a feature printed with first printhead and a feature printed with the second printhead. The scaled second camera pixel separation is compared to a corresponding test pattern feature separation to determine an alignment error, which is used to adjust the alignment of the image data printed with at least one of the printheads. | 09-25-2014 |
20140293298 | THRESHOLD MATRIX GENERATION METHOD, IMAGE DATA GENERATION METHOD, IMAGE RECORDING APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image obtained by shrinking an original image in a row direction is halftoned, and this halftone dot image is enlarged in the row direction and recorded at double speed. In order to determine a threshold value of a threshold matrix used for halftoning an image, prepared is a matrix space in accordance with writing positions used for actual recording of an image. In the matrix space, writing elements are set alternately with non-writing elements both in the row direction and in a column direction. In the matrix space, turn-on numbers are allocated to all the writing elements in avoidance of the non-writing elements. Then, in accordance with the turn-on numbers, respective threshold values for the writing elements are determined. By shrinking the threshold matrix in the row direction with omission of the non-writing elements, a threshold matrix for double speed is obtained. | 10-02-2014 |
20150015899 | Recording Medium - This disclosure discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a printing processing program. The program executes steps on a computing device disposed on an operation terminal. The operation terminal recognizes the printing apparatus as a storage device or a printing device when the printing apparatus is in a storage device mode or the printing device mode. The steps includes a selection receiving, an off-line determining, a connection determining, and a switching outputting. In a selection receiving, a selection of specific the printing apparatus is received. In an off-line determining, it is determined whether or not the specific printing apparatus is in an off-line state. In a connection determining, it is determined whether or not the specific printing apparatus is connected as the storage device. In a switching outputting, the mode switching signal is outputted. | 01-15-2015 |
20150294195 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A recording apparatus includes a recording head that performs recording on a medium, a carriage that reciprocates in a predetermined direction, and an operation panel that has a predetermined operation function. The carriage and the operation panel are adjacent to each other. The operation panel overlaps at least a portion of the carriage in a height direction of the recording apparatus. | 10-15-2015 |
20150363675 | RECORDING APPARATUS - A printer is configured such that a low position face is formed in an upper portion of a frame that forms a skeleton of an apparatus body thereof, and a panel unit that provides a user with a function of operating the printer and a function of displaying various items is disposed in a state of being embedded in the low position face. This configuration enables the height-direction size (the z-axis direction size) of the printer to be suppressed to a size smaller than the size resulting from independently adding the height-direction size of the frame to the height-direction size of the panel unit. | 12-17-2015 |
20160028910 | SERVICING A PRINT HEAD ARRAY - A print controller initiates printing of a print job by at least one print head array of a printing system. In response to determining that the at least one print head array should be serviced, the print controller determines whether the servicing of the at least one print head array will interrupt the print job. In response to determining that the servicing will not interrupt the print job, the print controller causes movement of the at least one print head array from a given position to a servicing station of the printing system. In response to determining that the servicing will interrupt the print job, the print controller performs other tasks. | 01-28-2016 |
20160052295 | PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING A DESIGN TO AT LEAST ONE FINGERNAIL/TOENAIL SURFACE - The invention relates to a system comprising an apparatus ( | 02-25-2016 |
20160089917 | Printer - A printer includes a printing portion, a display, and a processor. The printing portion includes a plurality of heating elements arrayed in a specified direction. The printing portion is configured to perform printing on a print medium. The display is configured to display an image. The processor is configured to cause the display to display a first image, the first image being an image that shows the plurality of heating elements, receive specification of a check range, the check range being a range that includes a heating element to be checked among the plurality of heating elements, check, in a case where the specification of the check range is received, a state of the heating element included in the check range, and cause the display to display a check result of the state of the heating element. | 03-31-2016 |
20160104060 | PHOTO IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A photo imaging system and method for forming an image in porous material is provided. The photo imaging system includes a printing device configured to travel over the porous material for printing a photo on a printing surface area of the porous material and at least one curing device configured to travel over at least the printing surface area of the porous material to perform a curing process. | 04-14-2016 |