Ink jet printer, method of controlling an ink jet printer, and computer program product for an ink jet printer

Abstract

A printer is provided with an ink jet head and a controller. The ink jet head prints on a print medium by discharging ink. The ink jet head comprises a plurality of units. Each unit comprises a nozzle for discharging ink, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a piezoelectric element facing the pressure chamber. The piezoelectric elements form at least two element lines. Each element line is formed by at least two piezoelectric elements aligned in a first direction. Each element line is aligned in a sec direction which is different from the first direction. The controller controls the ink jet head to print on the print medium by changing voltage applied to each piezoelectric element of the ink jet head. The controller controls timings at which the controller changes voltage applied to each piezoelectric element by the element line. It is preferred that a timing at which the controller changes voltage applied to one of the two adjacent element lines is different from a timing at which the controller changes voltage applied to the other of the two adjacent element lines.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-315858, filed on Oct. 29, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an ink jet printer. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling an ink jet printer, and a computer program product for an ink jet printer. The ink jet printer of the present invention includes all devices for printing words, images, etc. by discharging ink towards a print medium. For example, the ink jet printer of the present invention includes copying machines, fax machines, etc.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]An ink jet printer has an ink jet head for printing on a print medium by means of discharging ink. Some ink jet heads have a plurality of units. Each unit has a nozzle for discharging ink, a pressure chamber comm...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The present inventors discovered that satisfactory printing can generally be achieved if the structural cross-talk phenomenon is prevented from occurring between two adjacent element lines. If the structural crosstalk phenomenon occurs only between two adjacent piezoelectric elements, the effects thereof are small, and relatively satisfactory printing can be achieved.

[0019]The structural cross-talk phenomenon can be prevented from occurring between two adjacent element lines by providing a time difference between the timing at which one of two adjacent element lines is made to deform simultaneously, and the timing at which the other of the two adjacent element lines is made to deform simultaneously.

[0020]FIG. 21 shows an example of a case where the element lines have been set to have differing timing for deformation. The piezoelectric elements are deformed in sequence with the timing shown by the numbers. In the example in FIG. 21, when the nozzle line Y1 is facing the position where the straight line Z1 is to be printed, the piezoelectric elements in the element line X1 are simultaneously deformed with a timing 1. When the nozzle line Y2 is facing the position where the straight line Z1 is to be printed, the piezoelectric elements in the element line X1 are simultaneously deformed with the timing 1, and the piezoelectric elements in the element line X2 are deformed with a timing 2. Since the element line X1 and the element line X2 are deformed with different timings, the structural cross-talk phenomenon can be prevented from occurring between the element line X1 and the element line X2.

[0021]When the two adjacent element lines have been set to deform, with differing timings as described above, the structural cross-talk phenomenon can be prevented from occurring between these element lines, and consequently satisfactory printing can be achieved.

[0024]This ink jet printer is capable of preventing the occurrence of the structural cross-talk phenomenon between the two adjacent element lines. Satisfactory printing can therefore be achieved.

Problems solved by technology

When the structural cross-talk phenomenon is occurring between the two adjacent element lines, satisfactory printing cannot be achieved.