Printhead Die Warming for Drop Weight Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Larger printheads used to increase print speed often degrade the quality of print output due to variations in drop weight among printhead dies, resulting in visual discontinuities and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
A multi-die printing system that equalizes the nominal drop weights of fluid drops emitted from printhead dies by applying controlled amounts of warming, ensuring consistent drop weights across all dies, thereby maintaining high image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a larger printhead is used to increase print speed, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to drop weight variations among printhead dies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different warming amounts to different printhead dies based on their individual characteristics. The controller determines specific warming amounts for each die to equalize drop weights, allowing each die to have customized thermal treatment rather than uniform treatment, thereby resolving the precision issue while maintaining the large printhead configuration for high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of printhead dies to equalize drop weights. By adjusting the warming amount as a controllable parameter for each die, the system compensates for manufacturing variations and achieves consistent drop weights across all dies in a large printhead, enabling both high speed and high quality printing
2Productivity
If a larger printhead is used to print greater portions of the medium at a time, then productivity is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to visual discontinuities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies localized warming control to different regions (dies) of the printhead. By determining and applying specific warming amounts to each die based on its individual drop weight characteristics, the system ensures uniform ink delivery across the entire large printhead width, eliminating visual discontinuities while maintaining high-speed printing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller measures or determines the actual drop weight characteristics of each die and uses this information to calculate appropriate warming amounts. This closed-loop control ensures that visual discontinuities are eliminated by compensating for die-to-die variations, maintaining image quality across the full printing width
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
The system achieves uniform drop weights and improved image quality by adjusting the temperature of printhead dies, minimizing visual discontinuities and ensuring consistent color characteristics across the printed medium.
Implementation Method 1
A heating arrangement is thermally coupled to at least some of the various dies. The controller determines from the emitted drops amounts of warming that, when applied to some corresponding ones of the various dies, will substantially equalize the nominal drop weights
Data Source
AI summary
A method for printing with a plurality of dies. A plurality of dies is provided, with each die having a plurality of drop generators that are configured to eject drops of a same colored fluid. The drops from each die have a corresponding nominal drop weight at a reference temperature of the die. At least one of the dies is warmed to a corresponding elevated temperature higher than the reference temperature in order to substantially equalize the nominal drop weights of all of the dies.