Page Wide Array Printhead Interruption Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Page wide array printers face issues with unexpected interruptions during printing, leading to irregular and discontinuous print job endings, which negatively impact commercial value, especially when interruptions occur towards the end of a print job, resulting in unnecessary soiling of printer parts.
Innovation Solution
A controller-based system that generates alternative firing data to seamlessly complete a print job by modifying preliminary firing data to account for printhead die offset and media path positioning, ensuring a clean end of print job even in case of interruptions, by adjusting print zone data, column pulses, or image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If printhead dies are fixedly located at different locations upstream or downstream of the media path, then printing can occur without movement of the printhead dies relative to the printer, but unexpected interruptions lead to irregular and discontinuous print endings
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively detects potential interruptions (media end, jams, errors) before they occur and preemptively adjusts the firing data for downstream printhead dies to stop firing. This preliminary action prevents the harmful effect of discontinuous printing by preparing compensatory measures in advance, allowing the system to maintain print job integrity even when interruptions occur during operation.
2Productivity
If printing continues without interruption, then complete print jobs are produced, but printing fluid is ejected onto the printing platen or conveyor belt when media is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors media availability and print job progress, using this feedback to dynamically adjust the firing data. When media insufficiency is detected, the feedback loop triggers automatic modification of firing sequences to prevent printing fluid ejection onto the platen or conveyor belt, thereby eliminating the harmful soiling effect while maintaining optimal productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If printhead dies are offset along the media path, then different printhead dies can fire at different positions, but staggered printhead dies create crenelated print endings during interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the firing parameters (timing, position, intensity) of downstream printhead dies based on the detected interruption and the known offset distances between printhead dies. By adjusting these parameters in real-time, the system compensates for the staggered positioning effect, ensuring that print endings remain clean and continuous despite the physical offsets between printhead dies.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples include a method comprising preparing nominal firing data of a print job for a first printhead die and for a second printhead die of a page wide array printer. The first printhead die is located downstream from the second printhead die along a media path of the printer, the printhead dies being offset along the media path by an offset distance. The methods comprises starting printing by applying the nominal firing data to the printhead dies; receiving a print job interruption request during printing of the print job; and in response to receiving the job interruption request, modifying the nominal firing data to obtain modified firing data for interrupting printing using the first printhead die while continuing printing using the second printhead die during a specific time period after the first printhead die interrupted the printing, the specific time corresponding to the offset distance.