Inkjet Nozzle Ejection Sequencing to Reduce Landing Position Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
When the number of ejection operations is equal among a plurality of nozzles that eject ink on the same raster line, image quality can degrade due to variations in the landing positions of ink droplets.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a head unit comprising two nozzle columns aligned in different directions, where the controller controls the ejection operations such that the number of ejections for each nozzle varies, specifically, the number of ejection operations of one nozzle is larger than that of an adjacent nozzle, reducing the frequency of simultaneous ejections by adjacent nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the number of ejection operations is equal among multiple nozzles on the same raster line, then the workload is balanced, but image quality degrades due to variations in ink landing positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally making the number of ejection operations different for nozzles on the same raster line. Specifically, nozzles are configured to have unequal ejection counts (e.g., one nozzle ejects more times than its neighbor), which compensates for variations in ink landing positions and improves overall image quality while maintaining acceptable workload distribution
2Productivity
If multiple nozzles perform ejection operations simultaneously on the same raster line, then productivity is maintained, but air flow disturbances increase causing ink landing position variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by controlling nozzles to eject ink in alternating sequences rather than simultaneously. Nozzles on the same raster line are assigned different ejection timings within a periodic cycle, which reduces air flow disturbances and ink landing position variations while maintaining overall ejection throughput through coordinated periodic operations
Data Source
AI summary
a controller controls ejection operations such that the number of ejection operations of the first nozzle is larger than the number of ejection operations of the second nozzle and the number of ejection operations of the fourth nozzle is larger than the number of ejection operations of the third nozzle.