Inkjet Printer Conveyance Control for Streak Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image recording apparatuses face challenges in reducing white streaks and unevenness in concentration due to variations in conveyance amounts of recording paper, which can lead to increased recording time when trying to eliminate these issues.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus that includes a conveyor, a carriage with a recording head, and a controller that adjusts the conveyance amount and recording passes to record a thinned-out image in overlap areas using different nozzles, based on the presence of image data, to minimize the length of blank sections and maintain efficient recording time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of lines to be recorded in the overlap area is increased to reduce white streaks and unevenness, then image quality is improved, but the number of bands required increases which lengthens recording time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the recording process have different properties. Specifically, in the overlap area where two bands meet, the recording density is increased by using multiple nozzles to record multiple lines, while in non-overlap areas the normal recording process is maintained. This localized enhancement of recording quality in critical areas eliminates white streaks without requiring all areas to use more bands, thus avoiding excessive increase in recording time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by applying the enhanced multi-nozzle recording method only to the overlap area where it is most needed, rather than to the entire recording area. By concentrating the additional recording effort (excessive action) specifically in the overlap region where white streaks occur, the patent achieves the goal of eliminating defects while minimizing the overall increase in recording time.
2Manufacturing precision
If the conveyance amount of recording paper is increased to cover the gap between bands, then white streaks are reduced, but the overlap area becomes too large which increases recording time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the conveyance amount based on the detected position of the overlap area. When an overlap area is detected, the conveyance amount is temporarily increased to create sufficient overlap for quality recording. When no overlap area is present, the conveyance amount returns to the normal smaller value. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures concentration uniformity in critical areas while minimizing the overall increase in recording time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamics by making the conveyance amount variable rather than fixed. The conveyance amount is adjusted in real-time based on whether the recording head is positioned in an overlap area or not. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize both image quality and recording speed by applying larger conveyance amounts only when and where needed, rather than maintaining a consistently large conveyance amount throughout the entire recording process.
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 solution effectively reduces or eliminates white streaks and unevenness in concentration without increasing the recording time by optimizing the conveyance amount and recording passes, ensuring consistent image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a recording head carried on the carriage and including a nozzle row that has a plurality of nozzles aligned in the conveyance direction; and a controller configured to control the conveyer, the carriage and the recording head to record an image on the recording medium by alternately performing a recording pass in which liquid is discharged from the nozzles to the recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a conveyer, a carriage moving in a scanning direction, a recording head, and a controller. When the controller has not detected that image data of a line image corresponding to one line that extends in the scanning direction is present at an upstream end in a conveyance direction of the recording area for a next recording pass, the controller makes a conveyance amount of the recording medium in the conveyance operation between a certain recording pass and the next recording pass smaller than a case in which the controller has detected that the image data of the line image is present at the upstream end in the conveyance direction of the recording area for the next recording pass, by a predefined amount.