Page Wide Array Printer Media Advance Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Page-wide array printing devices face print quality issues due to mismatches between the read and actual positions of the print medium caused by geometric deviations in the media advance system, leading to sinusoidal errors and misalignments in printed images.
Innovation Solution
A calibration method involving the printing and scanning of a test pattern on a calibration medium to determine calibration values, which are used to compensate for errors in the media advance system, specifically fitting a sinusoidal function to the differences in test mark widths to adjust the print head alignment and ensure accurate dot placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the media advance system operates without calibration, then the printing process is simple and fast, but print quality deteriorates due to sinusoidal errors and misalignments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing calibration before normal printing operations. A test pattern is printed first to characterize the media advance system's sinusoidal errors, and calibration values are determined in advance to compensate for these errors. This preliminary calibration step ensures that subsequent printing operations achieve high precision without requiring complex real-time adjustments during production printing.
2Manufacturing precision
If calibration values are determined through test pattern scanning and analysis, then manufacturing precision improves, but loss of time increases due to the calibration process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating a test pattern that replicates the printing conditions and then scanning this copy to determine calibration values. The test pattern serves as a representative sample that captures the media advance system's behavior. By analyzing this copied test pattern rather than requiring multiple trial prints, the calibration process efficiently determines the necessary compensation values with minimal time investment.
3Manufacturing precision
If the media advance system is calibrated to compensate for sinusoidal errors, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases due to additional calibration components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical calibration adjustments with a computational approach. Instead of adding mechanical components to physically adjust and compensate for sinusoidal errors, the system prints a test pattern, scans it to measure actual positions, calculates calibration values through data analysis, and applies these values computationally to correct the media advance positioning. This substitution of mechanical adjustment with computational correction achieves high precision while minimizing additional hardware complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of determining calibration values for a media advance system of a page wide array printing device is described. A test pattern is printed on a calibration medium which advances along a media axis through the printing device. The test pattern comprises a plurality of test marks. The test pattern is scanned along a scan axis using a sensor and the calibration medium is advanced along the media axis through the printing device. The dimensions of the scanned test marks are analyzed, and calibration values are determined from the analyzed dimensions of the test marks. The scan axis is orthogonal to the media axis.