Printer Ink Discharge Position Shift for Delay Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink supply delays in printers lead to image quality degradation due to viscosity increases at lower temperatures, causing dot deviation and lightened colors, which existing solutions attempt to address by reducing print head speed but result in further image quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A printing device with a controller that adjusts main-scanning speed and ink discharge position based on ink supply conditions, slowing down main-scanning when ink supply is delayed and shifting discharge positions to maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main-scanning speed is reduced to suppress ink supply delay, then ink supply reliability is improved, but dot position accuracy deteriorates due to dot deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the timing parameter of ink discharge by controlling the print head to discharge ink at a different position when main-scanning speed is reduced. Specifically, when ink supply delay is detected, the system discharges ink corresponding to a pixel at a position shifted in the main-scanning direction, compensating for the position error caused by speed reduction and maintaining dot position accuracy while allowing slower scanning speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a corrected image data that accounts for the position shift. By generating image data that corresponds to the shifted discharge position, the system ensures that the printed dots appear at the correct logical positions in the final image, effectively copying the intended image layout despite the physical displacement caused by variable scanning speed.
2Reliability
If the main-scanning speed is reduced to allow ink supply catch-up, then ink supply timing is improved, but printing productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of ink supply status and alternating between different scanning speeds. The controller determines whether ink supply delay is likely to occur and adjusts main-scanning speed accordingly, creating a periodic pattern of speed adjustment that ensures ink supply timing while minimizing the overall impact on printing productivity through selective rather than continuous speed reduction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the print head discharges ink at the original position after speed reduction, then position consistency is maintained, but dot position accuracy deteriorates due to ink supply delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the discharge position parameter dynamically based on main-scanning speed. When speed is reduced, the system calculates the appropriate position shift and discharges ink at this new position instead of the original position. This parameter change compensates for the time delay in ink supply and ensures that dots are placed accurately despite the speed variation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively suppresses ink supply delays and dot deviation, thereby preventing image quality degradation while ensuring consistent ink delivery.
Implementation Method 1
when temperature of the ink is relatively low, viscosity of the ink becomes high and thus, a delay in supply of ink from an ink storage unit to the print head may be likely to occur
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device includes: a controller configured to perform printing wherein in a first case where a first condition is not satisfied, the controller controls the main-scanning unit to perform the main-scanning at a first speed and controls the print head to discharge the ink to correspond to a specific pixel of a partial image to be printed by the partial printing when the print head is at a first position, and in a second case where the first condition is satisfied, the controller controls the main-scanning unit to perform the main-scanning at a second speed slower than the first speed and controls the print head to discharge the ink to correspond to the specific pixel when the print head is at a second position, which is located at a downstream of the first position in the direction of the main-scanning.