Dual Print Head Ink Ejection Ratio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing technologies face challenges in achieving uniform color reproducibility among multiple print heads due to manufacturing variations, such as differences in nozzle diameters, leading to inconsistent ink ejection and color accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and method that includes a first head and a second head with nozzles configured to eject ink in the same color, supported by a reciprocally movable carriage, with a control device setting an operation mode to either a first mode or a second mode. In the second mode, the control device adjusts the ink ejection contribution ratio between the heads to ensure high color reproducibility by printing over a narrower range, sharing ink ejection contributions at a prescribed ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ink is ejected from multiple print heads to increase printing speed and coverage, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing variations in nozzle diameters cause inconsistent ink ejection quantities leading to poor color reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The control device changes the operational parameters of each print head by assigning different contribution ratios to the ink ejected from each head. The control device calculates and adjusts the ink ejection quantities based on measured nozzle diameter variations, assigning higher contribution ratios to heads with nozzles that eject less ink and lower contribution ratios to heads with nozzles that eject more ink. This parameter adjustment compensates for manufacturing variations and achieves uniform color reproduction across all print heads while maintaining high-speed printing.
2Manufacturing precision
If patches are printed and colors are measured to adjust for individual ink ejection quantities, then color reproducibility is improved, but achieving uniform color reproduction properties among multiple print heads remains difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The control device implements a feedback mechanism by measuring the actual ink ejection quantities from each print head's nozzles and using these measurements to calculate appropriate contribution ratios. The system continuously monitors and adjusts the operational parameters based on the measured variations, automatically compensating for manufacturing differences. This feedback-based approach simplifies the operation by eliminating the need for manual adjustment while achieving uniform color reproduction across all print heads.
Data Source
AI summary
In a printing apparatus, a carriage is reciprocally movable in first and second directions. A control device is configured to perform executing one of first and second printing operations in accordance with an operation mode. The first printing operation prints a first image over a first range in a third direction crossing the first and second directions by ejecting ink from both first and second heads during one movement of the carriage in the first and second directions. The second printing operation prints a second image over a second range narrower than the first range in the third direction by ejecting ink from both the first and second heads during the one movement of the carriage. Ink ejection contribution during the one movement of the carriage is shared by the first and second heads at a prescribed contribution ratio in the second printing operation.