Inkjet Printer Data Buffering for Maintenance Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent capping operations during printing in inkjet printers, especially in line head inkjet printers, significantly reduce throughput due to the need to move the inkjet head to a maintenance mechanism, even during active printing processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a printing apparatus with a conversion unit that processes data into image data and holds it until a predetermined amount is reached, allowing for simultaneous printing of multiple pages and minimizing the need for maintenance operations during active printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capping operations are performed frequently during printing to prevent nozzle clogging, then nozzle reliability is improved, but printing throughput deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by converting and storing image data for multiple pages in advance before printing. By having multiple pages ready in the image memory, the printer can maintain continuous printing operation without pausing for maintenance operations, thus preserving throughput while still performing capping at appropriate intervals
Solution Approach 2:
The image memory acts as an intermediary buffer between the data processing unit and the printing unit. This buffer allows the system to decouple the printing speed from the data conversion speed, enabling continuous printing while maintaining the ability to perform maintenance operations without interrupting the printing flow
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus performs conversion processing that converts input data corresponding to a page into image data, executes a predetermined operation for transition of a printhead to a printing standby state, in a case where image data is delayed, performs holding processing that holds the image data in a data memory, and performs retaining processing until an amount of image data held in the data memory exceeds a predetermined amount. The printing apparatus also outputs the image data in the data memory in a case where the amount of image data held in the data memory exceeds the predetermined amount, and executes printhead printing based on the output image data. In a case where input data still remains, the conversion processing for the remaining input data is performed concurrently with the printing based on the output image data.