Printing Control Apparatus for Ink Sub-Droplet Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face image quality deterioration due to sub-droplets generated during printing, particularly when the platen gap is wide, leading to blurring of letters and ruled lines as sub-droplets deviate from main droplets.
Innovation Solution
A printing control apparatus that allows for two printing modes: one with a wider platen gap using fewer nozzle rows and reducing printing resolution in the nozzle row direction, and another with a narrower platen gap using more nozzle rows, thereby controlling ink size and resolution to minimize sub-droplet generation and improve image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wide platen gap is used, then the printing head can be positioned farther from the printing medium, but sub-droplets are more likely to deviate and cause image quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active nozzle rows based on the platen gap setting. When a wide platen gap is selected, fewer nozzle rows are activated to reduce the total ink discharge points and minimize sub-droplet generation. When a narrow platen gap is used, more nozzle rows are activated to maintain high printing resolution. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing nozzle usage according to the platen gap condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the printing head by varying the number of active nozzle rows and the printing resolution in the nozzle row direction based on the platen gap setting. This parameter adjustment ensures that image quality is maintained across different platen gap configurations by compensating for increased sub-droplet deviation risk through reduced resolution requirements when the gap is wide.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of nozzle rows is reduced to suppress sub-droplet generation, then image quality deterioration is reduced, but printing resolution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by adjusting the number of active nozzle rows and the printing resolution in the nozzle row direction based on the platen gap setting. When a wide platen gap is used, fewer nozzle rows are activated and the printing resolution in the nozzle row direction is reduced, which suppresses sub-droplet generation while maintaining acceptable image quality for that configuration. When a narrow platen gap is used, more nozzle rows are activated with higher resolution to maximize printing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the printing resolution and nozzle row configuration to match the platen gap setting. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize between sub-droplet suppression and printing resolution by selecting appropriate combinations of active nozzle rows and resolution levels based on the operational conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If more nozzle rows are used to maintain printing resolution, then printing quality is improved, but sub-droplet generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active nozzle rows based on the platen gap setting. When a narrow platen gap is used, more nozzle rows are activated to maintain high printing resolution since sub-droplet deviation is minimal. When a wide platen gap is used, fewer nozzle rows are activated to reduce sub-droplet generation, as the longer flight time causes greater deviation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by matching nozzle row usage to the actual risk of sub-droplet generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by varying the number of active nozzle rows and the printing resolution in the nozzle row direction according to the platen gap setting. This parameter optimization allows the system to minimize sub-droplet generation while maintaining adequate printing resolution by selecting the appropriate number of active nozzles based on the flight distance and deviation risk.
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 solution effectively reduces sub-droplet generation and improves image quality by adjusting nozzle row configuration and ink size, reducing blurring and maintaining a balance between printing resolution and ink size, even with a wide platen gap.
Implementation Method 1
An orbital of the sub-droplets, which are smaller and lighter than the main droplets, is likely to be scattered during flying, due to air resistance or the influence of air current.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing control apparatus which realizes printing by controlling a printing head including nozzle rows in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a predetermined nozzle row direction, the apparatus including a control section that controls the printing head in which the plurality of nozzle rows discharging same types of ink are disposed to be deviated from the nozzle row direction, in which the control section is capable of selecting and performing any one of a first printing mode in which the printing is performed by setting a platen gap which is a distance from a platen supporting the printing medium on which the ink is discharged to the printing head as a first platen gap, and a second printing mode in which the printing is performed by setting the platen gap as a second platen gap which is narrower than the first platen gap.