Inkjet Printing Control for Bi-Directional Deviation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies face issues with bi-directional printing deviation and inefficient ink usage during split printing, leading to increased printing time and potential ink wastage, especially when the remaining ink amount is low or when power consumption and ink duty limits are exceeded.
Innovation Solution
A printing control apparatus and method that uses a recording head with nozzles arranged in a row formation, performing interlace printing on both outward and return paths, with a dischargeable amount acquiring section determining the number of splits based on the remaining ink amount, power consumption, and ink duty limits, ensuring odd-numbered splits to prevent bi-directional deviations and optimize ink usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If split printing is carried out to reduce ink discharge amount per unit of time, then ink usage is optimized, but bi-directional printing deviation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The printing process is divided into multiple passes (outward path and return path) with the printing region split into multiple sub-regions. Each pass prints only in its designated sub-region, segmenting the overall printing task to control ink discharge rate while maintaining position accuracy through coordinated head movement and timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing system dynamically adjusts the printing head's movement and ink discharge timing based on real-time position feedback. The head accelerates and decelerates at appropriate points during each pass, and ink is discharged only when the head is in the correct position within each sub-region, preventing bi-directional deviation while enabling split printing for ink optimization.
2Loss of substance
If the number of passes is increased to reduce ink discharge amount, then ink usage is optimized, but printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The printing region is segmented into multiple sub-regions that can be printed in parallel or in an optimized sequence. By dividing the region rather than simply increasing sequential passes, the system reduces total printing time while still controlling ink discharge per unit time through the segmented approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing head maintains continuous movement and ink discharge across multiple passes without unnecessary stopping or idle time. Each pass continuously prints in its designated sub-region, and the system coordinates passes to minimize idle time, maintaining high utilization of the printing head while optimizing ink usage.
3Loss of substance
If split printing is performed with even number of divisions, then ink discharge amount is reduced, but bi-directional deviation becomes apparent
Solution Approach 1:
The printing head extracts or skips specific sub-regions during each pass based on the split configuration. By strategically selecting which sub-regions to print in each pass and coordinating the outward and return paths, the system prevents alternating patterns of deviation while still achieving ink discharge optimization through the split printing approach.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing control apparatus is configured to use a recording head where a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a row formation with a predetermined pitch, and configured to perform interlace printing such that a resolution is equal to or more than a resolution that is based on the pitch when printing is performed due to ink droplets being discharged from each of the nozzles. The printing control apparatus includes a dischargeable amount acquiring section configured to determine a dischargeable amount per unit of time according to a remaining amount of ink in an ink cartridge, and a split printing control section configured to split a predetermined region in one band an odd number of times according to the dischargeable amount per unit of time, and configured to carry out interlace printing in each of split regions on an outward path and a return path.