Ink-jet Recording Head Nozzle Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses struggle to accurately jet ink droplets from nozzles with different flying times, leading to misalignment on the sheet due to simultaneous jetting of all nozzles, resulting in inconsistent ink placement.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a recording head with first and second nozzles, each with corresponding driving elements, and a controller that outputs specific timing signals to the head driving circuit to control the jetting of ink droplets from each nozzle individually, allowing for proper timing adjustments based on varying flying times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all nozzles jet ink simultaneously, then the recording process is simple and fast, but ink droplets from nozzles with different flying times do not land on desired positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the nozzles into multiple groups (first nozzles and second nozzles) based on their flying time characteristics. Each group is controlled independently with separate driving elements and signal lines, allowing differential timing control. This segmentation enables the system to maintain high-speed recording while achieving precise ink placement by adjusting the jetting timing of each group according to its specific flying time.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual timing control is implemented for nozzles with different flying times, then ink placement precision is improved, but the signal transmission complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time dimension to the signal transmission by implementing different timing offsets for different nozzle groups. While the physical signal line structure remains relatively simple, the control system applies temporal differentiation through separate clock signals and timing adjustments for first and second nozzles. This allows precise ink placement control without proportionally increasing physical hardware complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head including first and second nozzles and first and second driving elements corresponding to the first and second nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by first and second signal lines and a third signal line for transmitting a clock signal, the head driving circuit connected electrically to the first and second driving elements. Each of the first and second driving elements is driven to jet an ink droplet from one of the first and second nozzles corresponding thereto when driving voltage is applied from the head driving circuit. The controller executes relative movement processing for the recording head and a sheet in parallel with recording processing in which pattern signals of the driving voltage are outputted serially to the first signal line and a jetting instruction signal is outputted serially to the second signal line.