A sealing timer (25) for measuring the time in which the recording head (7) is sealed by the capping device (10); an opening timer (26) for measuring the time in which the recording head (7) is opened to the atmosphere; and a cleaning control means having a first cleaning mode in which a predetermined quantity of ink is sucked, a second cleaning mode in which a larger quantity of ink than the quantity of ink sucked in the first cleaning mode is sucked, and a third cleaning mode in which a quantity of ink substantially equal to the quantity of ink sucked in the second cleaning mode is divided into two portions and the two portions may be sucked at two separate times. Wiping or rubbing is performed by the cleaning member (18) during a period of time when the two portions are sucked, the cleaning control device (20) slects at least one of the first, second and third cleaning modes on the basis of data of the timers (25) and (26) in accordance with a cleaning instruction, the three modes being used automatically selectively in accordance with the situation of the recording head (7) to thereby perform cleaning.

The inkjet recording apparatus comprises: a full line print head in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged for respective ink colors across a length corresponding to a full width of a recording medium; a selection device which selects at least one of the plurality of nozzles for printing a dot onto the recording medium as a dot for a discharge failure detection, from at least one of the plurality of nozzles to be used for a print for obtaining a final output image based on print data; a discharge failure detection device which performs the discharge failure detection by reading in the dot for the discharge failure detection printed on the recording medium; and a reverse conveyance device which returns the recording medium to a printing position of the print head after the discharge failure detection performed by the discharge failure detection device, wherein the print for obtaining the final output image is performed by the print head onto the recording medium, by returning the recording medium to the printing position of the print head by the reverse conveyance device after the discharge failure detection performed by the discharge failure detection device.

A method is provided which is intended to reduce a visibility of ink dots ejected onto a print medium during a preliminary ejection operation to produce a satisfactory printed image. Preliminary ejection data is compared with image data. When the preliminary ejection is necessarily performed on a pixel that has no image data, image data of a pixel close to the pixel being processed is searched. When image data exists, the image data is moved to a pixel that has preliminary ejection data. The preliminary ejection data is added to the image data one scan at a time to perform printing.

There is disclosed an ink jet recording apparatus which performs printing on a recording medium to be subjected to processing such as pasting and folding after the printing, including an ink jet head in which a plurality of ink discharge nozzles are arranged to cross with respect to a conveyance direction of the recording medium, a spit position determining unit which determines a spit position based on size information and unexposed region information of the recording medium, and a spit control unit which controls spit of the ink jet head based on a spit position determining result of the spit position determining unit. Here, the unexposed region information defines regions on the recording medium surface which are unexposed or cut away after printing and processing.

A method of automatically servicing the orifices of an inkjet printhead particularly beneficial for inexpensive fixed or stationary printhead printers capable or printing onto either a series of discrete media sheets or onto a continuous media web. The method includes orifice servicing at the start of each character printing job and at periodic intervals during completion of print jobs. Printing ink is used for automatic cleaning or flushing of the printhead orifices.