Inkjet Head Nozzle Group Segmentation for Streak Defect Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In single-path inkjet printing, accurately specifying and correcting nozzle abnormalities is challenging due to high-density nozzle arrangements, leading to streak defects and excessive waste sheet generation, especially when the reading resolution of imaging devices is lower than the recording resolution.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus with an image abnormality detecting device and a correcting device that performs plural non-ejection correction by making multiple nozzles non-ejectable within a nozzle group, followed by single non-ejection correction to specifically address the abnormal nozzle, reducing waste sheet production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sequential nozzle specification is performed to accurately identify abnormal nozzles, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to excessive waste sheet generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the high-density nozzle array into multiple nozzle groups, where each group contains a subset of nozzles. By sequentially specifying abnormal nozzles at the group level rather than individual nozzle level, the system reduces the number of specification steps and waste sheets generated while maintaining acceptable detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by making multiple nozzles non-ejectable simultaneously within a nozzle group when an abnormality is detected. Instead of specifying one nozzle at a time, the system makes a group of nozzles non-ejectable, which reduces the number of iterative specification steps and waste sheets required to eliminate streak defects.
2Manufacturing precision
If high-density nozzle arrangement is used to improve recording resolution, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases making abnormality detection more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-density nozzle array into multiple manageable nozzle groups. This segmentation simplifies the complexity of detecting and specifying abnormalities in high-density arrangements by allowing the system to work with smaller subsets of nozzles rather than the entire array at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a group-level dimension for nozzle specification, adding an organizational layer above individual nozzles. This dimensional change allows the system to manage high-density arrangements more effectively by abstracting the complexity into group-based operations.
3Device complexity
If reading resolution is lower than recording resolution, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates making abnormal nozzle specification difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for lower reading resolution by segmenting nozzles into groups and detecting abnormalities at the group level. This segmentation allows the system to achieve adequate measurement precision even when the imaging device cannot resolve individual nozzles, as the larger group patterns are more easily detectable at lower resolutions.
Data Source
AI summary
A image forming apparatus includes: a device that detects abnormality of an image caused by abnormality of a nozzle in an inkjet head and a correcting device that performs correction by making a part of a plurality of nozzles non-ejectable based on a detection result of the abnormality and by compensating for it by another nozzle. The correcting device includes a plural non-ejection correcting device that performs correction by making two or more nozzles non-ejectable with respect to one abnormal nozzle and a single non-ejection correcting device that performs correction by making one abnormal nozzle non-ejectable with respect to the one abnormal nozzle. After a plural non-ejection correction is performed by making a nozzle group belonging to a nozzle range of a region including abnormality and including an abnormal nozzle non-ejectable, a single non-ejection correction is performed by making the abnormal nozzle non-ejectable.