Liquid Discharge Head Overlap for Wide-Media Printing Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in maintaining image quality when dealing with wide print media due to alignment accuracy issues between discharge heads and variations in discharge characteristics, leading to degradation in the overlapping regions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a configuration where adjacent heads have overlapping nozzle regions with alternating discharge and non-discharge nozzles arranged in a straight line transverse to the nozzle array direction, controlled to alternately discharge or not discharge droplets, reducing image quality degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple discharge heads are arranged to cope with wide print media, then the discharge width is improved, but alignment accuracy between heads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the discharge functions of multiple heads by overlapping their nozzle arrays in the transverse direction. Specifically, the last nozzle array of the first head and the first nozzle array of the second head are positioned to overlap, creating a unified discharge region where droplets from both heads land on the same area of the medium. This merging approach allows the system to treat wide media as a single continuous discharge zone, eliminating the need for precise alignment between separate head regions.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple discharge heads are arranged to cope with wide print media, then the discharge width is improved, but discharge variation between heads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by treating the overlapping region differently from non-overlapping regions. In the overlapping region, the control unit selectively discharges droplets from only one head (either the first or second head) based on predetermined control signals, rather than discharging from both heads simultaneously. This localized control strategy ensures uniform droplet density and consistent discharge characteristics in the critical overlapping area, while allowing full discharge from both heads in non-overlapping regions to maintain overall discharge width capability.
3Area of stationary object
If droplets are discharged from both heads in overlapping regions, then discharge coverage is improved, but concentration unevenness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of droplet discharge in the overlapping region by using a control unit that receives image data and dynamically determines which head should discharge droplets at any given position. The control unit generates control signals that alternately or selectively activate the first head or second head based on the specific location and requirements of the image data. This dynamic switching mechanism ensures that droplets are discharged consistently from one head at a time in the overlapping region, preventing concentration unevenness while maintaining full coverage through coordinated operation of both heads across different regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a first head including first nozzle arrays each including first nozzles arrayed in a nozzle array direction to discharge droplets from the first nozzles to a medium; and a second head including second nozzle arrays each including second nozzles arrayed in the nozzle array direction to discharge droplets from the second nozzles to a medium; and circuitry configured to control the first head and the second head to discharge the droplets from the first nozzles and the second nozzles, respectively. The first head and the second head are adjacent to each other in a transverse direction intersecting the nozzle array direction, the first head has a first overlap region at one end of the first head in the nozzle array direction, and the second head has a second overlap region overlapped with the first overlap region in the transverse direction.