Patent ID: 6168261
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B41J,G06K,H04N

Abstract:
A recording apparatus comprising: recording means having an array of a plurality of recording elements to record an image on a recording medium with ink, said array of recording elements having a first block of recording elements used between commencement and termination of a recording operation and a second block of recording elements used only in case an abnormality arises in the recording elements of said first block; main scan means for relatively scanning said recording means with respect to the recording medium in a direction different from a direction of said array of recording elements; detecting means for detecting the abnormality in said first block prior to a main scan of said recording means by said main scan means; image data supply means for supplying image data for supply to an abnormal recording element in said first block to a recording element in said second block, which is scanned on the same region as a region where the abnormal recording element is to record when said detecting means detects the abnormal recording element; sub-scan means for relatively scanning said recording means and the recording medium in the direction of said array of recording elements by a length of said second block for each main scanning by said main scan means; and recording control means for causing the recording element of said second block supplied with the image data by said image data supply means to perform complementary recording when the abnormality arises in the recording element of said first block, wherein the recording elements in said first block except the abnormal recording element are used for recording even when the abnormality arises in the recording elements of said first block.