Patent ID: 6905185
Filing Date: 2005-06-14
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An inkjet printing apparatus comprising: a plurality of inkjet printheads which correspond to a plurality of ink colors, each printhead having a plurality of orifices for discharging ink, discharge energy generation elements arranged in correspondence with the respective orifices to discharge the ink, ink discharge signal output means for receiving printing data and outputting ink discharge signals corresponding to printing dots, block data input means for inputting serial block data for dividing the plurality of orifices into a plurality of blocks and driving the blocks in correspondence with the ink discharge signals, the block data being provided for determining a driving order of the plurality of divided blocks, block selection signal output means for temporarily holding a signal output from said block data input means and outputting the signal output from said block data input means as block selection signals corresponding to the plurality of blocks, and driving signal output means for outputting driving signals for driving the discharge energy generation elements for discharging the ink by using the signals output from said ink discharge signal output means and said block selection signal output means; and a control circuit having printing data output means for individually outputting the printing data to said ink discharge signal output means of each printhead, latch signal output means for outputting a common latch signal to said block selection signal output means of the plurality of printheads so as to switch a hold or release of the signal output from said block data input means by said block selection signal output means, and block data output means for individually outputting the block data to said block data input means of each printhead, wherein in said control circuit, the output timing of the printing data from said printing data output means to said ink discharge signal output means and the output timing of the block data from said block data output means to said block data input means are overlapped, and wherein a discharge energy generation element of a block designated by the block data from said block data output means is driven after transmitting the block data, and said block data output means outputs next block data during driving of the discharge energy generation element.