Dot Omission Compensation Using Inducing Ink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for compensating dot omission in ink-jet printers using photocurable ink are insufficient, as they fail to effectively address the issue of dot omission during print operations.
Innovation Solution
A printing method and apparatus that detects defective nozzles and compensates for dot omission by using a preceding nozzle to discharge an inducing ink different from the compensation target ink to the position where the omission occurs, ensuring that the inducing ink forms dots that spread and compensate for the missing ink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nozzle of a following head set at the same position as a defective nozzle is used to discharge ink of the same hue to induce a dot to spread out, then dot omission can be compensated for, but this method is insufficient for compensating dot omission when photocurable ink is used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (inducing ink) that is discharged from a preceding nozzle to facilitate the spread of compensation target ink. This inducing ink acts as a mediator that enables effective dot omission compensation specifically for photocurable inks, resolving the incompatibility of previous methods with photocurable ink systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by discharging the inducing ink from a preceding nozzle before the compensation target ink is discharged. This preliminary discharge of inducing ink creates conditions that enable subsequent compensation target ink to spread effectively and compensate for dot omission in photocurable ink systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively compensates for dot omission by inducing the compensation target ink to the vicinity of the omission, minimizing its visibility and maintaining the hue of the printed material, even when using photocurable inks.
Implementation Method 1
a light irradiator configured to irradiate photocuring light on the printing medium, the ink being discharged from each of the plurality of nozzle rows
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a printing method for forming ink dots on a printing medium by using a plurality of nozzle rows that discharge a plurality of types of photocurable inks. The printing method includes detecting a defective nozzle that has an ink discharge fault, and compensating for dot omission by causing, preceding the defective nozzle, a preceding nozzle that discharges an inducing ink different from a compensation target ink, which the defective nozzle should have discharged, to discharge the inducing ink to a position on the printing medium where dot omission occur due to the defective nozzle.