Patent ID: 7347519
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A printing apparatus for printing an image on a print medium by a print head having a plurality of printing elements arrayed in a predetermined direction, while scanning the print head over the print medium in a direction different from the predetermined direction, the printing apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting a number of data indicating print for each of a plurality of blocks obtained by dividing a print area which is printable by the print head in one scan; comparison means for comparing a value detected by the detection means with a plurality of thresholds; and decision means for determining, based on a result of the comparison made by the comparison means, a scan speed of the print head and a number of scans of the print head required to print the print area, wherein the decision means, (A) when the detected value is equal to or lower than a first threshold, determines a first scan speed as the scan speed and K (K is an integer equal to or greater than 1) as the number of scans, (B) when the detected value is higher than the first threshold and equal to or lower than a second threshold, determines a second scan speed which is slower than the first scan speed as the scan speed and K as the number of scans, and (C) when the detected value is higher than the second threshold, determines the second scan speed as the scan speed and an integer greater than K as the number of scans.