Inkjet Printer Code Printing via Defective Nozzle Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses face defects such as nozzle clogging and ink discharge issues, which can lead to incomplete or incorrect code printing, affecting the analysis and association of printed images with original data.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus that embeds a code in print data, determines suitable ink colors by excluding defective or problematic ones, and uses multiple nozzle arrays to print the code, ensuring accurate and reliable code analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a code is printed using multiple ink colors to enable quality inspection, then the inspection capability is improved, but the risk of printing defects increases due to potential nozzle clogging or ink discharge issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary inspection of nozzle status and ink discharge functionality before printing the code. The determination unit evaluates whether each ink color can be used by checking for nozzle clogging or discharge issues, and only selects ink colors that pass this preliminary check, thereby preventing printing defects before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the parameter of ink color selection based on the actual status of nozzles and ink discharge. Instead of using a fixed ink color scheme, the determination unit adjusts which ink colors are used according to real-time nozzle conditions, ensuring that only functional ink colors are selected for code printing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If inkjet printing is used for variable printing, then printing flexibility is improved, but nozzle clogging and ink discharge problems occur more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring nozzle status and ink discharge performance. The determination unit receives information about nozzle clogging or discharge issues and uses this feedback to adjust ink color selection, ensuring that problematic nozzles or ink colors are avoided in subsequent printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing system performs self-diagnosis and self-adjustment by automatically detecting nozzle issues and selecting alternative ink colors without external intervention. The determination unit autonomously evaluates nozzle functionality and makes decisions about ink color usage, enabling the system to maintain reliability through self-service monitoring and adjustment.
3Productivity
If defective nozzles are used to print codes, then printing speed is maintained, but code analysis accuracy deteriorates due to incomplete or incorrect printing
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit performs preliminary evaluation of nozzle functionality before code printing. By checking whether nozzles are clogged or malfunctioning in advance, the system can select only functional nozzles and ink colors for code printing, ensuring that the code is printed correctly without requiring reprints that would slow down production.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of ink color selection based on nozzle status. When defective nozzles are detected, the determination unit switches to using different ink colors that can be properly discharged by functional nozzles, thereby maintaining printing speed while ensuring code printing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a printing apparatus including an obtaining unit configured to obtain print data in which in imposition image data in which one or more images are imposed in a print region, a code for identifying each image in the imposition image data is embedded; a determination unit configured to determine an ink color to be used to print the code by excluding an ink color satisfying a predetermined condition from candidates for the ink color to be used to print the code; and a print control unit configured to print the code based on the print data obtained by the obtaining unit using a plurality of nozzle arrays for the ink color determined by the determination unit.