Inkjet Recorder Adaptive Feed Strategy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The interlaced recording method in inkjet printers requires an increased number of main scanning operations for images whose length in the auxiliary scanning direction is equal to or less than the length of the inkjet nozzles, leading to decreased throughput.
Innovation Solution
An image recording device that selects between two interlace methods based on image width, using either the even feed method or the fine feed method, where the even feed method feeds the sheet by a distance d2 and the fine feed method feeds by a shorter distance d1, allowing adjacent dots to be recorded with different or the same dot forming elements respectively, to optimize scanning operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the conventional interlaced recording method is used where any two adjacent lines are recorded with different inkjet nozzles in different scanning operations, then image quality is improved by obscuring nozzle variations, but the number of main scanning operations increases for images whose length is equal to or less than the nozzle array length, causing decreased throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the recording parameters by introducing two different recording modes: a first recording mode where adjacent lines are recorded with different nozzles (feed distance > pitch) and a second recording mode where adjacent lines may be recorded with the same nozzle (feed distance ≤ pitch). The system dynamically selects between these modes based on image dimensions, allowing optimization between image quality and throughput for different image types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the recording system dynamic by automatically selecting between two different recording methods based on the image width comparison with the nozzle array length. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to switch from the quality-optimized interlaced method to the throughput-optimized direct method when appropriate, resolving the contradiction between image quality and throughput.
2Manufacturing precision
If the feed distance is set to be more than the predetermined pitch (even feed method), then adjacent lines are recorded with different dot forming elements improving image quality, but the number of scanning operations increases for small images reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the feed distance parameter based on image characteristics. When the image width exceeds the nozzle array length, the feed distance is set to more than the pitch to ensure different nozzles record adjacent lines. When the image width is within the nozzle array length, the feed distance is reduced to equal to or less than the pitch, allowing the same nozzle to record multiple lines and reducing scanning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different recording strategies locally based on image size. For large images, the interlaced recording method with different nozzles for adjacent lines is applied. For small images, the direct recording method with the same nozzle for multiple lines is applied. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction between dot placement precision and scanning efficiency.
3Productivity
If the feed distance is reduced to equal to or less than the predetermined pitch (fine feed method), then the number of scanning operations decreases enhancing throughput, but adjacent lines may be recorded with the same dot forming element potentially increasing nozzle variation impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the feed distance parameter to equal to or less than the pitch when recording small images whose width is within the nozzle array length. This allows the same nozzle to record multiple adjacent lines, reducing the number of scanning operations and enhancing throughput while maintaining acceptable image quality for small image sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the fine feed method locally to small images where nozzle variation impact is less noticeable. By matching the recording method to the image size, the system achieves high throughput for small images without significantly compromising image quality consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording device including a feeder and a recorder with dot forming elements aligned in a predetermined direction at intervals of a predetermined pitch. When determining that a first whole length of an image group to be printed in the predetermined direction is more than a second whole length of the dot forming elements in the predetermined direction, the image recording device records the image group with the recorder while feeding a recording medium with the feeder by a first feed distance more than the predetermined pitch each printing operation to be repeated. When determining that the first whole length is equal to or less than the second whole length, the image recording device records the image group with the recorder while feeding the recording medium with the feeder by a second feed distance equal to or less than the predetermined pitch each printing operation to be repeated.