Medical ink-jet recording apparatus

• US 20030029380A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Corporation (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakazawa, Masayuki, Yamano, Akira, Honda, Chika
• Application Number:
  US10/186,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/688
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2056 by ink density change

Abstract

There is described a medical image recording apparatus, which records a medical image on a recording medium based on image data. The apparatus includes an ink-jetting head to emit ink particles onto the recording medium and a controlling section to control the ink-jetting head, so that a total amount of the ink particles per unit area, emitted by the ink-jetting head and adhered onto the recording medium, is maintained at substantially a constant value even if density of a solid-tone image area varies within density range D. With respect to at least one of combinations of values k1, k2 selected under conditions of 0≦k1<1, 0<k2<1.0, and k1<k2, the density range D fulfils the equation of Dmin+k1(Dmax−Dmin)≦D≦Dmin+k2(Dmax−Dmin), where, Dmax is a recordable maximum-density, and Dmin is a recordable minimum-density.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising:

an ink-jetting head to emit ink particles onto said recording medium; and

a controlling section to control said ink-jetting head, so that a total amount of said ink particles per unit area, emitted by said ink-jetting head and adhered onto said recording medium, is maintained at substantially a constant value even if density of a solid-tone image area, to be recorded on said recording medium, varies within density range D;

wherein, with respect to at least one of combinations of values k1, k2 selected under conditions of

0≦

k1<

1, 0<

k2≦

1.0, and k1<

k2,

 

said density range D fulfils the following equation,

Dmin+k1(Dmax−

Dmin)≦

D≦

Dmin+k2 (Dmax−

Dmin)

 

where,

Dmax;

a recordable maximum-density,

Dmin;

a recordable minimum-density.

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said ink particles includes at least one of more than three kinds of inks having densities different each other in a same color tone.

3. The apparatus of claim 2,

wherein said image is a medical image and said apparatus is an ink-jetting recording apparatus for medical use.

4. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said ink particles includes an organic solvent;

and

wherein said controlling section controls said ink-jetting head, so that a total amount of said organic solvent per unit area is also maintained at substantially a constant value even if density of said solid-tone image area, to be recorded on said recording medium, varies within said density range D.

5. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein gradation of said image is created on said recording medium by forming dots in a dot-matrix including a plurality of cells, based on image data inputted into said apparatus, and said ink-jetting head emits said ink particles onto said recording medium so as to form said dots;

and

wherein said controlling section controls said ink-jetting head, so that an ink amount per each of said dots is kept at substantially a constant value and a total number of said dots in said dot-matrix, formed by said ink-jetting head onto said recording medium, is maintained at substantially a constant value even if density of said solid-tone image area, to be recorded on said recording medium, varies within said density range D.

6. The apparatus of claim 5,

wherein a weight ratio of an organic solvent included in said ink particles is constant, irrespective of a density of a color material employed.

7. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein said ink particles have either a uniform density or two kinds of densities adjacent each other in order of color-material densities.

8. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein said values k1, k2 are defined as

k1=0.15, k2=0.4.

9. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein said values k1, k2 are defined as

k1=0.1, k2=0.6.

10. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein said values k1, k2 are defined as

k1=0, k2=1.0.

11. The apparatus of claim 2,

wherein a transparent ink is included in said more than three kinds of inks.

12. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein said recording medium is transparent.

13. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein said total amount of said ink particles per unit area is controlled at substantially said constant value within a controlling error range of 10%.

14. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein, with respect to density range A other than said density range D, said controlling section controls said ink-jetting head, so that said total amount of said ink particles per unit area increases monotonically with increasing density in said density range A.

15. An apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium, comprising:

an ink-jetting head to emit ink particles onto said recording medium; and

a controlling section to control said ink-jetting head, so that a total amount of organic solvent per unit area, included in said ink particles emitted by said ink-jetting head and adhered onto said recording medium, is maintained at substantially a constant value even if density of a solid-tone image area, to be recorded on said recording medium, varies within density range D;

wherein, with respect to at least one of combinations of values k1, k2 selected under conditions of

0≦

k1<

1, 0<

k2≦

1.0, and k1<

k2,

 

said density range D fulfils the following equation,

Dmin+k1(Dmax−

Dmin)≦

D≦

Dmin+k2 (Dmax−

Dmin)

 

where,

Dmax;

a recordable maximum-density,

Dmin;

a recordable minimum-density.

16. The apparatus of claim 15,

wherein said ink particles includes at least one of more than three kinds of inks having densities different each other in a same color tone.

17. The apparatus of claim 16,

wherein said image is a medical image and said apparatus is an ink-jetting recording apparatus for medical use.

18. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein gradation of said image is created on said recording medium by forming dots in a dot-matrix including a plurality of cells, based on image data inputted into said apparatus, and said ink-jetting head emits said ink particles onto said recording medium so as to form said dots;

and

wherein said controlling section controls said ink-jetting head, so that an ink amount per each of said dots is kept at substantially a constant value and a total number of said dots in said dot-matrix, formed by said ink-jetting head onto said recording medium, is maintained at substantially a constant value even if density of said solid-tone image area, to be recorded on said recording medium, varies within said density range D.

19. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein said ink particles have either a uniform density or two kinds of densities adjacent each other in order of color-material densities.

20. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein said values k1, k2 are defined as

k1=0.15, k2=0.4.

21. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein said values k1, k2 are defined as

k1=0.1, k2=0.6.

22. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein said values k1, k2 are defined as

k1=0, k2=1.0.

23. The apparatus of claim 16,

wherein a transparent ink is included in said more than three kinds of inks.

24. The apparatus of claims 17,

wherein said recording medium is transparent.

25. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein said total amount of said organic solvent per unit area is controlled at substantially said constant value within a controlling error range of 10%.

26. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein, with respect to density range A other than said density range D, said controlling section controls said ink-jetting head, so that said total amount of said organic solvent per unit area increases monotonically with increasing density in said density range A.