Patent ID: 7744188

Claim:
An image forming method by using an image forming apparatus that performs printing by use of a print head including a plurality of nozzles that eject a print recording liquid onto a print medium, the print head check method comprising a step of: after switching on a voltage application circuit to generate a potential difference between an electrode provided in the print head and an electrode provided in a predetermined check area, when the print head is driven so that each of the plurality of nozzles of the print head ejects the print recording liquid onto the check area, performing an ejection check based on electrical change in the electrode provided in the print head or in the check area when the print recording liquid has been ejected from the print head onto the check area, to confirm whether or not the print recording liquid has actually been ejected, wherein at least a portion of the ejection check is performed at same time as performing at least a portion of a predetermined image forming-related process that is required for printing, and switching off the voltage application circuit at the end of the ejection check, wherein the predetermined image forming-related process is a process of ejecting a print medium that has completed printing and supplying a print medium for a subsequent printing, wherein the ejection check is performed in parallel with, or in a partially overlapping manner with, any one process selected from a reception process of receiving a printing instruction from a user, a data conversion process of converting data for which printing is instructed into print data, a supply process of supplying the print medium to a position at which the print head ejects the print recording liquid, and an edge detection process of detecting an edge of the print medium supplied to the position at which the print head ejects the print recording liquid during printing on a first page, and, when any subsequent page to be printed exists, performs the ejection check in parallel with or in a partially overlapping manner with a print medium ejection process of ejecting the print medium for which the printing is completed.