Digital Inkjet Printer Swath Timing for Gloss Banding Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printers face issues with print quality artifacts like gloss banding due to insufficient maintenance of unused nozzles during extended inactivity, leading to ink spitting inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method involving gradual adjustment of swath times to ensure effective nozzle maintenance by increasing and decreasing swath times to align with the print head's movement to and from a maintenance tray, minimizing ink particle misdirection and optimizing nozzle preparation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the print head moves quickly to maintain productivity, then printing efficiency is improved, but the nozzles cannot spit properly in the maintenance tray causing print quality artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the swath time variable rather than constant. The control system dynamically adjusts the swath time based on whether the print head is in printing mode or spitting mode. During spitting operations, the swath time is extended to allow the print head to reach the maintenance tray and complete the spitting action, while during normal printing, the swath time remains optimized for productivity. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between printing efficiency and print quality.
2Reliability
If the swath time is extended to allow proper spitting, then nozzle maintenance is improved, but gloss banding becomes visible on the printed image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different spatial regions during the printing process. When the print head needs to spit, only specific nozzles (those requiring maintenance) are held at extended swath times to reach the maintenance tray, while other nozzles continue with normal printing swath times. This localized adjustment ensures proper nozzle maintenance without causing gloss banding across the entire printed image, as only the necessary nozzles are affected by the extended timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by triggering spitting operations at specific intervals rather than continuously. The control system monitors nozzle performance and initiates spitting cycles periodically when needed, extending the swath time only during these periodic maintenance intervals. Between spitting cycles, the printer operates at normal printing speed, thus preventing gloss banding while ensuring nozzles are maintained periodically to prevent print quality degradation.
3Manufacturing precision
If unused nozzles are maintained with frequent spitting, then print quality is improved, but printing productivity decreases due to longer maintenance cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the print head to perform its own maintenance (spitting) during the normal printing process without requiring separate maintenance cycles or stopping production. The control system automatically detects when nozzles need maintenance and directs them to the maintenance tray during appropriate moments in the printing sequence. This self-service approach allows nozzle maintenance to be integrated into the printing workflow, maintaining print quality while minimizing impact on overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for printing a digital image in swaths with a swath time corresponding to the width of the digital image on the image receiving medium in the main scanning direction, the print controller issues a trigger that a spitting action for at least part of the printing elements of the print head needs to be performed. A swath time of subsequent swaths is gradually increased until the print head reaches a maintenance tray at a side of the print surface. The print head stays at the maintenance tray until air between the print head and the maintenance tray has approximately reached a standstill. Then, at least part of the printing elements of the print head are spitting marking material in the maintenance tray. After the spitting, the swath time of subsequent swaths is gradually decreased until the swath time is corresponding again with the width of the digital image on the image receiving medium in the main scanning direction. A digital inkjet printer is configured to perform the method.