Patent ID: 6217143
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A printing method using a print head including a plurality of printing elements to print an image on a printing medium by repeatedly effecting a printing operation for printing said image on said printing medium by one scanning of said print head in a main scanning direction, and a feeding operation for feeding said printing medium in a sub scanning direction substantially perpendicular to said main scanning direction, said method comprising:a first scanning step of printing said image on said printing medium using a specific number of printing elements located at an upstream side with respect to the sub scanning direction among said plurality of printing elements when a first printing of said printing operation is performed, said specific number of printing elements being determined depending upon a residual length obtained by dividing a length of said image printed on said printing medium with respect to the sub scanning direction by a printing width printed by said plurality of printing elements with respect to the sub scanning direction;a first feeding step of feeding said printing medium in an amount corresponding to an arrangement length of said plurality of printing elements with respect to the sub scanning direction after said first scanning step; anda printing step of printing said image on said printing medium by repeating said printing operation using said plurality of printing elements and said feeding operation for feeding said printing medium in the amount corresponding to the arrangement length of said plurality of printing elements after said first feeding step,wherein said printing medium is fed intermittently in an equal amount during feeding operations after printing said image in the first line on said printing medium until completion of printing of said image of the last line at the upstream side with respect to the sub scanning direction.