Offset Nozzle Rows for High-Resolution Monochrome Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face limitations in achieving high image resolution in the conveying direction during both multicolor and monochrome printing due to the uniform nozzle alignment, which restricts the resolution in a single recording pass.
Innovation Solution
The inkjet printer design features nozzle rows with nozzles aligned in the conveying direction, where the positions of nozzles among rows are offset, allowing for increased resolution by varying the ink discharge patterns for multicolor and monochrome printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If nozzles in multiple rows are aligned at the same positions in the sheet-conveying direction, then the device structure is simple and multicolor printing is effective, but the resolution in the conveying direction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally misaligning nozzle rows in the sheet-conveying direction. Specifically, even-numbered nozzle rows are shifted by a distance L/2 relative to odd-numbered nozzle rows, creating an asymmetric nozzle arrangement that enables higher resolution monochrome printing while maintaining effective multicolor printing capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If nozzles are aligned uniformly across all rows, then the device is easy to manufacture, but the image resolution in monochrome printing cannot be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the nozzle rows into two groups: odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows. Each group is positioned at different locations in the sheet-conveying direction, allowing the system to achieve higher resolution by selectively using nozzles from different segments depending on whether monochrome or multicolor printing is performed.
3Productivity
If the same nozzle positions are used for all colors, then multicolor printing is efficient, but monochrome printing resolution is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic nozzle selection strategy where the controller selectively activates different nozzle rows based on the printing mode. For monochrome printing, nozzles from both odd and even rows are alternately used to achieve higher resolution, while for multicolor printing, specific nozzle rows are selected based on the ink color being printed, maintaining printing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus, having a head including first nozzles and second nozzles, a carriage, a relative-movement device, a first reservoir, a second reservoir, and a controller, is provided. The controller repeats one of a set of a multiple-liquids recording pass, where liquids in different types are discharged from the first nozzles and the second nozzles, and a first relative-movement action, where the head and a recording medium are moved relatively in a relative-movement direction, and a set of a single-liquid recording pass, where a liquid in a same type is discharged from the first nozzles and the second nozzles, and a second relative-movement action, where the head and the recording medium are moved relatively in the relative-movement direction. A resolution of an image recorded in the single-liquid recording pass is higher than a resolution of an image recorded in the multiple-liquids recording pass in the relative-movement direction.