Liquid Discharge Apparatus Head Overlap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in maintaining uniform image quality due to variations in drive frequency characteristics, positional deviations, and differences in droplet speed between adjacent heads, particularly in the nozzle overlapping regions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a configuration with two adjacent heads having nozzle arrays with overlapping regions, where the circuitry controls the discharge of liquid droplets to form a mask pattern. This pattern includes pixels from both heads arrayed in the array direction and intersecting pixels in the intersecting direction, with the number of consecutive pixels from each head limited to a predetermined value.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple adjacent heads discharge liquid droplets in the nozzle overlapping region, then the coverage area is improved, but image quality uniformity deteriorates due to density unevenness and streaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pixel discharge control into segments based on the source head. In the overlapping region, pixels are segmented into those discharged from the first head and those discharged from the second head. The circuitry selectively discharges pixels from alternating heads (e.g., first head for odd pixels, second head for even pixels) within the overlapping region, preventing consecutive pixels from the same head and thereby eliminating density unevenness and streaks while maintaining full coverage.
2Productivity
If the number of consecutively arrayed pixels from the same head is increased, then the discharge efficiency is improved, but density unevenness and streaks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating the discharge of pixels from different heads in a regular pattern. In the overlapping region, the circuitry discharges pixels from the first head, then the second head, then the first head again, and so on. This periodic alternation ensures that no more than one consecutive pixel from the same head is discharged in the array direction, maintaining density uniformity while preserving discharge efficiency through systematic head utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a first head, a second head, and circuitry. The first head has a first nozzle array having first nozzles arrayed in an array direction. The second head is disposed adjacent to the first head in an intersecting direction intersecting the array direction. The second head has a second nozzle array having second nozzles arrayed in the array direction. The circuitry causes the first head and the second head to discharge liquid droplets to form mask pattern having first pixels and second pixels arrayed in the array direction. The mask pattern further has intersecting pixels having either one of the first pixels or the second pixels consecutively arrayed in the intersecting direction. A number of the first pixels and a number of the second pixels consecutively arrayed in the array direction is equal to or less than the predetermined value.