Inkjet Nozzle Array Grouping for Uniform Ejection Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in correcting differences in ink ejection amounts across nozzle arrays due to mismatched grouping patterns between drive signal supply and identification information, leading to uneven ink distribution on the medium.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to acquire and select ejection amount identification information based on specific grouping patterns, allowing for the adjustment of ink ejection times to equalize ink distribution by grouping nozzle arrays into compatible patterns, ensuring consistent ink application across the medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the liquid ejecting head is embedded in the liquid ejecting apparatus with a specific grouping pattern of nozzle arrays corresponding to drive elements, then the drive signal can be commonly supplied to multiple nozzle arrays, but the ejection amount identification information must match this grouping pattern to correct ink distribution differences. When the grouping pattern changes, the existing identification information becomes incompatible, leading to inability to correct ink distribution differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores multiple ejection amount identification information pieces in advance, each corresponding to different grouping patterns. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly select the appropriate identification information without requiring real-time recalculation when the grouping pattern changes, ensuring reliable ink distribution correction across different configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic selection of ejection amount identification information based on the actual grouping pattern used in the liquid ejecting apparatus. The control unit can adaptively choose from multiple stored identification information pieces corresponding to different grouping patterns, allowing the system to maintain reliability while supporting various configurations
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ejection amount identification information pieces are stored for different grouping patterns, then the system can adapt to different nozzle array groupings, but the device complexity increases due to storage and selection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-stores multiple ejection amount identification information pieces in memory before the system operates. This eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations or measurements when switching between grouping patterns, as the appropriate identification information is already available for immediate use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of ejection amount identification information for different grouping patterns. Instead of requiring a single complex identification system that must handle all patterns, the system uses multiple simplified copies, each tailored to a specific grouping pattern, making the overall management more straightforward
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that includes a number N of nozzle arrays that are two or more nozzle arrays includes selecting one ejection amount identification information piece from among the plurality of ejection amount identification information pieces according to a one grouping pattern in which the nozzle arrays are grouped so that the nozzle arrays corresponding to the drive element to which the drive signal generated by each of the one or more drive signal generating circuits is commonly supplied are grouped into the same group, and setting, based on the one ejection amount identification information piece, a number of times that the liquid is ejected from the number N of nozzle arrays onto the medium per unit area.