Non-uniform spit pattern for inkjet printhead nozzle conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face issues with nozzles becoming inoperative due to clogging, drying out, or wear, leading to image defects, especially with certain types of inks like latex-based, and current pre-conditioning methods often result in non-uniform spit patterns that do not adequately address the varying needs of all nozzles.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a non-uniform spit pattern that matches the length of the printhead, allowing each nozzle to spit a different number of drops and at varying frequencies to ensure all nozzles are fully functional, with specific patterns for different print modes and ink types, and adjusting spit patterns based on the number of passes and nozzle configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform spit pattern is used for pre-conditioning all nozzles, then the pre-conditioning process is simple to implement, but some nozzles may not receive adequate conditioning while others receive excessive conditioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by dividing the printhead into multiple sections (e.g., first section, second section, third section) and assigning different spit patterns to each section. Each section's nozzles receive a customized number of spits based on their specific conditioning needs, rather than applying a uniform pattern across all nozzles. This ensures that nozzles in different locations receive appropriate conditioning without over or under-treating any particular group.
2Reliability
If a non-uniform spit pattern is used to adequately condition all nozzles, then nozzle functionality is improved, but the complexity of the pre-conditioning process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the printhead into multiple distinct sections, with each section having its own dedicated spit pattern. The controller is configured to selectively activate specific spit patterns for specific sections based on the pre-conditioning needs. This segmentation allows for customized conditioning of different nozzle groups while maintaining manageable control logic through systematic organization of patterns and sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the spit pattern selection adaptive and configurable. The controller can selectively activate different spit patterns for different sections based on detected nozzle performance characteristics. The system dynamically adjusts which patterns are applied to which sections, allowing the pre-conditioning process to adapt to actual nozzle conditions rather than following a rigid fixed sequence.
3Loss of time
If the spit pattern length is shortened to speed up pre-conditioning, then the process time is reduced, but coverage of all nozzles is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a set of reusable spit patterns that can be selectively activated for different sections. Each spit pattern is designed to cover a specific section's nozzles, and the controller can activate the appropriate pattern based on which section requires conditioning. This multi-functional approach allows the same pattern design methodology to be applied across all sections while maintaining efficient coverage of the entire printhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer is disclosed. The printer spits printing fluid from nozzles using a spit pattern. The spit pattern is non-uniform along the spit pattern length.