Inkjet Head Array Control for Drying Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Printing apparatuses with head units that have multiple ink ejecting heads can experience uneven drying and quality degradation due to the inhibition of certain heads, leading to issues with ink mixing and color formation.
Innovation Solution
A printing control device that controls the head unit to execute printing without using a designated head and all heads aligned on one side in the nozzle array extending direction, allowing for the prevention of uneven drying and quality degradation by adjusting the printing process to accommodate errors or inhibited heads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If printing is executed using all heads including inhibited heads, then printing speed is maintained, but uneven drying and quality degradation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The head unit is divided into multiple independent head arrays (first head array, second head array, third head array) that can be independently controlled. When a head is inhibited, only the affected head array or specific heads within it are deactivated, while other head arrays continue operating, thus maintaining overall printing speed while ensuring quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different operational states to different heads based on their condition. Inhibited heads are completely deactivated, while functional heads continue normal operation. This localized quality control ensures that defective heads do not compromise the entire printing process, maintaining both speed and quality.
2Productivity
If inhibited heads are used in printing, then printing speed is maintained, but ink mixing and drying uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The head unit segments ink ejection into multiple independent head arrays that can be selectively activated. When heads are inhibited, the system deactivates only the affected segments while maintaining operation of other segments, ensuring uniform ink mixing from functional heads without compromising overall printing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs partial action by deactivating only the inhibited heads while keeping the majority of functional heads active. This approach maintains sufficient printing speed through the operational heads while ensuring ink mixing uniformity by excluding the problematic inhibited heads from the process.
3Reliability
If all heads aligned on one side of the designated head are deactivated, then drying uniformity is improved, but the number of usable heads decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The head unit is segmented into multiple head arrays positioned at different locations. When a head is inhibited, the system deactivates only the affected head array or specific heads within it, rather than deactivating all heads on one side. This segmentation allows the majority of heads across different arrays to remain operational, maintaining both drying uniformity and the number of usable heads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by deactivating only the specific inhibited heads or their immediate head array, rather than all heads on one side of the designated head. This localized approach ensures drying uniformity in the affected region while preserving the functionality of other heads, thus maintaining higher productivity.
4Reliability
If multiple head arrays are used with selective head deactivation, then printing quality is maintained, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The head unit is segmented into multiple independently controllable head arrays, each with its own control circuitry. This segmentation allows the control device to manage inhibited heads by deactivating only specific arrays or heads within arrays, maintaining printing quality through precise control while keeping the control logic relatively simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is configured to detect inhibited heads and automatically deactivate them before printing begins. This preliminary action prevents quality issues from occurring in the first place, simplifying the control process by handling the complexity of head management proactively rather than requiring complex real-time adjustments during printing.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a printer control device that controls a printer that includes an ink jet head unit that has head arrays, in which three or more ink jet heads for ejecting ink from nozzle arrays are aligned in a nozzle array extending direction, the printer control device includes a head control section that causes an ink jet head unit to execute printing without using a designated head that is an ink jet head designated and all ink jet heads aligned on one side in the nozzle array extending direction with reference to the designated head, in a designation mode, in which inhibition of use of the ink jet heads is designated.