Patent ID: 8979232
Filing Date: 2015-03-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a nozzle row group that includes a first nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a first liquid for forming a main image are arranged in a first direction, and a second nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a second liquid for forming a subsidiary image assisting the main image are arranged in the first direction, the second nozzle row being provided in parallel to the first nozzle row and disposed a distance from the first nozzle row in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a control unit that performs a dot forming operation of ejecting a liquid from each nozzle to form dots on a printing material while moving the nozzle row group in the second direction, and a movement operation of moving at least one of the printing material and the nozzle row group in the first direction to form an image on the printing material, wherein the control unit divides each of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row into N (N is an integer equal to or more than 3) nozzle groups when the dot forming operation is performed, wherein in a first mode, A nozzle groups of N nozzle groups of the second nozzle row and (N−A) nozzle groups of the first nozzle row are employed to form the subsidiary image of A layers and the main image of (N−A) layers are formed to overlap on the printing material, and wherein in a second mode, B (A≠B) nozzle groups of N nozzle groups of the second nozzle row and (N−B) nozzle groups of the first nozzle row are employed to form the subsidiary image of B layers and the main image of (N−B) layers are formed to overlap on the printing material.