Patent ID: 9254692
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: B41J,G06K

Claim Text:
1. An inkjet printing apparatus comprising: an obtaining unit configured to obtain a first print pixel pattern and a second print pixel pattern, each of which defines print allowed pixels, where the printing of a dot is allowed, and print non-allowed pixels, where the printing of a dot is not allowed, for a printing element line in which a plurality of ink ejecting elements are arranged in a sub-scan direction, wherein the first and second print pixel patterns correspond to 1 to P blocks (where P is an integer satisfying 3≦P) of the printing element line that are obtained by dividing the printing element line in the sub-scan direction into P divisions; a print unit configured to execute M times print scans (where M is an integer satisfying 2≦M<P and not a divisor of P) wherein a first print scan is performed according to the first print pixel pattern for printing a first column of M columns while moving the printing element line in a main scan direction crossing the sub-scan direction and a second print scan is performed according to the second print pixel pattern for printing a second column that is different from the first column of the M columns while moving the printing element line in a main scan direction crossing the sub-scan direction; and a conveying unit configured to convey a print medium in the sub-scan direction by a distance equivalent to one of the blocks between the print scans; wherein different columns of the M columns are printed by different scans of the M times scans by performing each of the M times scans according to different print pixel patterns, and wherein, for each integer s satisfying 1≦s<M, print pixel patterns of (s+N×M)-th blocks in the print pixel pattern respectively corresponding to all integers N satisfying 0≦N and s+N×M≦P have a complementary relationship with each other in the arrangements of the print allowed pixels for the first columns and, for each integer s satisfying 1≦s<M, print pixel patterns of (s+N×M)-th blocks in the second print pixel pattern respectively corresponding to all integers N satisfying 0≦N and s+N×M≦P have a complementary relationship with each other in the arrangements of the print allowed pixels for the second columns.