(54) PRINTING APPARATUS AND PRINTING METHOD
(75) Inventors: Yuichiro Suzuki, Kanagawa (JP);
Masao Maeda, Kanagawa (JP); Hitoshi
Nishikori, Tokyo (JP); Kazuhisa
Kuruma, Kanagawa (JP); Hideki
Nakanishi, Kanagawa (JP); Takayuki
Murata, Kanagawa (JP)
(73) Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo (JP)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 279 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/943,012
(22) Filed: Sep. 17, 2004
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2005/0062775 Al Mar. 24, 2005
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Sep. 24, 2003 (JP) 2003-332394
(51) Int. CI.
B41J 29/393 (2006.01)
B41J 29/38 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 347/19; 347/9
(58) Field of Classification Search 347/19
See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,313,124 A 1/1982 Hara
A printing apparatus and printing method can realize highquality printing without degrading the quality of a printed image even when a nozzle restriction function is adopted in addition to a discharge failure complement function. In a printing apparatus using an inkjet printhead having a plurality of nozzles, whether the position of an ink discharge failure nozzle exists at or near the end of a nozzle area which is still usable regardless of the use restriction on the nozzles is detected. The use of a nozzle for complementary printing executed with a nozzle positioned near the ink discharge failure nozzle is controlled in accordance with the detection result.
8 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
