Inkjet Ejection Head Nozzle Movement Adjustment for Density Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face issues with uneven ink density and increased printing time due to differences in the number of white and color ink nozzles, leading to potential nozzle clogging and inefficiencies in image formation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a processor-controlled image formation device that adjusts the relative movement of nozzle heads in both the main and sub scan directions, ensuring even ink distribution by modifying the ejection patterns and movement distances to align and combine pixel arrays effectively, even when some nozzles are clogged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of white ink nozzles and color ink nozzles are different, then the device can handle nozzle clogging scenarios, but unevenness in density of the color ink image occurs when the second number is larger than the first number
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the sub scan direction movement distance based on the actual number of functional nozzles. When the number of color ink nozzles exceeds white ink nozzles, the system modifies the movement distance to prevent overlapping pixel arrays, thereby maintaining density uniformity while accommodating variable nozzle functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the movement parameter (sub scan direction distance) based on nozzle configuration. By calculating the appropriate movement distance according to the minimum number of nozzles in either group, the system adapts its operation to prevent both overlapping and gaps in pixel array formation
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of white ink nozzles is larger than color ink nozzles, then complete coverage can be achieved, but the time required to complete printing increases when the number of main scans is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses only the necessary number of nozzles for complete coverage rather than all available nozzles. By calculating the minimum required nozzles based on the smaller group size, the system performs partial action with fewer main scans, completing printing faster while ensuring complete pixel array coverage
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of white ink nozzles and color ink nozzles are different, then the carriage can be configured flexibly, but some pixel arrays of the color ink image may be ejected in an overlapping manner or not formed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the sub scan direction movement parameter based on the actual nozzle configuration. By calculating the movement distance as the product of the minimum nozzle count and a predetermined pitch, the system adapts to different carriage configurations while ensuring accurate, non-overlapping pixel array formation
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is the image formation device which suppresses an occurrence of unevenness in density of the image and a time required to form the image. The image formation device forms images by moving the different ejection heads. One of the ejection heads ejects white ink from a first predetermined number of nozzles thereof. Another one of the ejection heads ejects color ink from the first predetermined number and a second predetermined number of nozzles thereof. The ejection heads that eject color ink move in a sub scan direction that is non-integral multiple of a distance between the adjacent nozzle holes and eject the color ink, and then move in the sub scan direction that corresponds to a length in the sub scan direction of an area of the ejection head in which the first predetermined number of the nozzles are arranged and eject the color ink.