Inkjet Head Maintenance with Adaptive Discharge Amounts

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of ink discharge amounts by storing multiple discharge amount settings in the memory unit and selecting appropriate discharge amounts based on nozzle defectiveness degree and user preferences. The controller dynamically changes discharge amounts during maintenance operations, transitioning from fixed uniform discharge to adaptive variable discharge based on real-time nozzle condition assessment.

The patent changes the parameter of ink discharge amount from a fixed uniform value to variable values based on nozzle defectiveness classification. The memory unit stores multiple discharge amount parameters, and the controller selects and applies appropriate parameters according to the diagnosed nozzle condition, enabling optimization between ink conservation and image quality restoration.

The patent applies local quality by differentiating maintenance treatment for different nozzle groups based on their defectiveness degree. Instead of uniform treatment, the system classifies nozzles into different defectiveness categories and applies customized discharge amounts to each category, optimizing ink usage for each specific nozzle condition rather than applying a blanket approach to all nozzles.

The patent implements partial action by discharging ink in controlled amounts specific to each nozzle's defectiveness level. For nozzles with minor defects, smaller discharge amounts are sufficient, while nozzles with severe defects receive larger discharge amounts. This prevents excessive ink discharge for nozzles that require minimal intervention, thereby reducing overall ink consumption while maintaining necessary restoration effectiveness.