Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.

Naoko Kawashima

Hiroomi Nakatsuji

Masato Usui

Jun Nakano

Hiroki Sakane

An ink-ejection-malfunction-nozzle detecting unit sets nozzle groups such that each nozzle group includes nozzles with a first interval, prints a first test pattern that includes first bands (including thin lines) corresponding to the nozzle groups, sets nozzle subgroups such that each nozzle subgroup includes nozzles with a second interval in each of the nozzle groups, prints a second test pattern that includes second bands (including thin blank lines) corresponding to the nozzle subgroups such that a correction process is performed for adjacent pixels of the thin blank lines, detects a first band including density defect in a scanned image of the first test pattern, detects a second band not including density defect in a scanned image of the second test pattern, correspondingly to the detected first band, and detects an ink ejection malfunction nozzle on the basis of the thin blank line in the detected second band.

Image forming apparatus

In an image forming apparatus, a correction processing unit prints a test pattern using a recording head, determines ink ejection malfunction positions on the basis of a scanned image of the test pattern, sets one of first and second correction modes for each of the ink ejection malfunction positions in accordance with a density of the ink ejection malfunction position on the basis of the scanned image, and performs the correction process for the ink ejection malfunction position in the set first or second correction mode. In the first correction mode, the correction process is performed for both a nozzle corresponding to the ink ejection malfunction position and an adjacent nozzle of the nozzle. In the second correction mode, the correction process is not performed for the nozzle corresponding to the ink ejection malfunction position but is performed for the adjacent nozzle.

An image processing apparatus includes a halftone processing unit and a multi-level gradation processing unit. The halftone processing unit is configured to perform a halftone process for a target image and generate a binary image corresponding to the target image. The multi-level gradation processing unit is configured to (a) set a target pixel as a dot pixel in the binary image, (b) determine whether a dot exists on plural first periphery pixels with a predetermined first distance from the target pixel and plural second periphery pixels with a predetermined second distance from the target pixel or not, (c) derive a gradation level of the target pixel among predetermined three or more gradation levels on the basis of a number of dots on the plural first periphery pixels and a number of dots on the plural second periphery pixels and thereby generate a multi-level gradation image.

Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus

An inkjet recording apparatus includes a sheet conveying unit, a storage unit, a line head, and a control unit. The line head includes an upstream-side head and a downstream-side head. The upstream-side and downstream-side heads are fitted to have overlapping portions in which a plurality of nozzles arranged in respective end portions of the heads overlap as seen from the sub scanning direction. When an adjustment chart is printed, the control unit makes the nozzles in the overlapping portion of the upstream-side head print a first line. The control unit makes the nozzles in the overlapping portion of the downstream-side head print a second line.

Inkjet recording apparatus and control method therefor

A replacement assisting liquid having a lower specific weight than an ink is introduced into a recording head filled with a preservative solution containing at least a moisturizing agent to discharge the preservative solution out of the recording head. Next, the ink is introduced into the recording head to discharge the replacement assisting liquid out of the recording head.

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Osaka, Japan

Naoko Kawashima