Printer Head Unit Nozzle Pitch Configuration for Streak Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer head technologies face challenges in minimizing streaks and density unevenness due to nozzle misalignment and precision issues in conveying mechanisms, leading to suboptimal image quality at overlap areas.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a printer design with elongate head units featuring distinct nozzle groups arranged with different pitches, where each nozzle group is strategically positioned to ensure optimal alignment and ink ejection patterns, minimizing relative displacement and density variations at overlap areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If head units are positioned with overlapping printable ranges to cover the recording medium width, then the coverage area is improved, but nozzle misalignment causes streaks in the overlap area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating nozzle pitch between head units: head units at the ends use a first pitch, while head units at the intermediate positions use a second pitch. This local differentiation ensures that nozzles in overlap areas align properly with adjacent head units, preventing streaks while maintaining full coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the nozzle arrangement by using different pitches for different head units based on their positions. Instead of uniform pitch across all head units, the intermediate head units have a different pitch than the end head units, creating an asymmetric configuration that optimizes alignment in overlap regions.
2Productivity
If conveying mechanism precision is insufficient, then conveyance speed and productivity may be improved, but relative displacement between dots occurs causing streaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the nozzle pitch for each head unit according to its position before printing begins. The controller is programmed with the specific pitch values for each head unit, so that even if conveyance has minor variations, the nozzles are already positioned to compensate and maintain proper dot alignment.
3Device complexity
If head units are not positioned at optimum positions, then device complexity may be reduced, but density unevenness occurs at image joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the nozzle pitch parameter for intermediate head units. Instead of using a single pitch value for all head units, the system changes the pitch parameter to a second pitch for intermediate units, which compensates for positioning variations and maintains uniform density at image joints without requiring complex positioning mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A printer is disclosed. One printer includes a first head unit being elongate in a longitudinal direction. The first head unit has a first nozzle group having a plurality of first nozzles arrayed with a first pitch along the longitudinal direction. The printer includes a second head unit being elongate in the longitudinal direction. The second head unit has a second nozzle group having a plurality of second nozzles arrayed along the longitudinal direction. The second nozzle group includes a plurality of nozzle sets. Each of the plurality of the nozzle sets includes some of the plurality of second nozzles. The second nozzles in each of the plurality of the nozzle sets arrayed with the first pitch along the longitudinal direction. The plurality of the nozzle sets are arrayed with a second pitch along the longitudinal direction. The second pitch is different from the first pitch.