Multi-Head Ink Ejection Control with Void Head Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses with multiple heads face inefficiencies when defects occur, leading to incomplete operations due to the detection of even a single defective head, which may not be used, resulting in wasted resources and operational errors.
Innovation Solution
A control method and apparatus that includes a storage unit to manage settings for multiple heads, designating void heads and controlling operations to avoid using defective heads, ensuring efficient ink ejection by utilizing functional heads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the printing apparatus performs strict defect detection for all heads before ejection operation, then the reliability of printing quality is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to operation cancellation even when only unused heads have defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of individual heads based on their usage status. The control unit identifies which heads will be used and which will not, then applies defect detection and error handling selectively to only the used heads. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining strict quality control where needed (used heads) while avoiding unnecessary operation cancellations (unused heads with defects).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the group of heads into used heads and unused heads based on the ejection operation plan. By dividing the heads into these subsets, the system can apply different control logic: strict defect detection for used heads and lenient handling for unused heads. This segmentation enables the system to maintain reliability for critical operations while improving overall productivity by avoiding unnecessary cancellations.
2Manufacturing precision
If the printing apparatus cancels operation when any defective head is detected, then the manufacturing precision is improved by avoiding print defects, but the loss of time increases due to repeated operation cancellations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying which heads will be used in the upcoming ejection operation based on the operation plan. The control unit creates a mapping between heads and their usage status before defect detection. This allows the system to perform targeted defect detection only on used heads, avoiding unnecessary cancellations and reducing time loss while maintaining print quality precision for the heads that will actually be used.
3Productivity
If the printing apparatus uses all available heads for ejection operation, then the productivity is improved, but the loss of substance increases when defective heads are forced to eject ink
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using defect detection results to dynamically control which heads perform ejection operations. The control unit receives feedback from the defect detection unit about the status of each head, then uses this information to selectively activate only the functional heads for ink ejection. This feedback mechanism ensures that defective heads are excluded from operation, preventing ink wastage while maintaining productivity through efficient use of functional heads.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a plurality of heads that eject ink, and a control unit that includes a storage unit that stores setting information related to settings of the plurality of heads, and causes the plurality of heads to perform an ejection operation that ejects the ink based on the setting information stored in the storage unit, in which the setting information includes void information related to a setting for setting at least one of the plurality of heads as a void head, and when the void head is present among the plurality of heads, the control unit performs control to cause the head that is not the void head among the plurality of heads to eject the ink and not to cause the void head to eject the ink in the ejection operation.