EP0867284A2 - Bilderzeugungsgerät und angepasstes Verfahren zur Regelung des Volumes von Tintentröpfchen und der Bläschenerzeugung - Google Patents

Bilderzeugungsgerät und angepasstes Verfahren zur Regelung des Volumes von Tintentröpfchen und der Bläschenerzeugung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0867284A2
EP0867284A2 EP98200819A EP98200819A EP0867284A2 EP 0867284 A2 EP0867284 A2 EP 0867284A2 EP 98200819 A EP98200819 A EP 98200819A EP 98200819 A EP98200819 A EP 98200819A EP 0867284 A2 EP0867284 A2 EP 0867284A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pulse
controller
ink droplet
providing
variably
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98200819A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0867284A3 (de
Inventor
Yin c/o Eastman Kodak Company Wen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eastman Kodak Co
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Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of EP0867284A2 publication Critical patent/EP0867284A2/de
Publication of EP0867284A3 publication Critical patent/EP0867284A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/0458—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits controlling heads based on heating elements forming bubbles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04588—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits using a specific waveform
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/0459—Height of the driving signal being adjusted
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04591—Width of the driving signal being adjusted
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04593—Dot-size modulation by changing the size of the drop
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/04501—Control methods or devices therefor, e.g. driver circuits, control circuits
    • B41J2/04598—Pre-pulse
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
    • B41J2/14088—Structure of heating means
    • B41J2/14112—Resistive element
    • B41J2/14137—Resistor surrounding the nozzle opening
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14451—Structure of ink jet print heads discharging by lowering surface tension of meniscus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2121—Ink jet for multi-colour printing characterised by dot size, e.g. combinations of printed dots of different diameter
    • B41J2/2128—Ink jet for multi-colour printing characterised by dot size, e.g. combinations of printed dots of different diameter by means of energy modulation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to imaging apparatus and methods and, more particularly, to an imaging apparatus and method adapted to control ink droplet volume, so that printing non-uniformities, such as "banding", are avoided and so that print density can be controllably varied to provide gray-scaling at each dot or pixel of an output image, the imaging apparatus and method being also adapted to inhibit the potential for void formation in the ink.
  • a typical ink jet printer using a multi-nozzle head data as to each of four colors (i.e., red, green, blue and black) regarding an input image are processed in a manner so that the multi-nozzle head forms a printed color output image on a recorder medium, which may be a suitable paper or transparency.
  • a recorder medium which may be a suitable paper or transparency.
  • ink jet printers may produce non-uniform print density with respect to the image formed on the recorder medium. Such non-uniform print density may be visible as so-called "banding". Banding is evinced, for example, by repeated variations in the print density caused by delineations in individual dot rows comprising the output image. Thus, banding can appear as light or dark streaks or lines within a printed area.
  • One factor causing banding is unintended variation in ink droplet volume. Unintended variation in ink droplet volume in turn may be caused by electrical resistance variation of a plurality of heaters in communication with the ink droplet, nozzle diameter variation, and/or the presence of damaged nozzles. Therefore, a problem in the art is non-uniform print density due to variation in nozzle physical attributes which in turn leads to variation in ink droplet volume.
  • Another type of ink jet printer uses a resistance heater to reduce surface tension of the ink droplet in the nozzle orifice. Static back-pressure acting on the ink droplet coacts with the simultaneous decrease in surface tension to eject the ink droplet from the orifice and propel it toward the recorder medium. Means are provided to obtain uniform print density by controlling the heat energy supplied to the ink droplet.
  • potential for heating of the ink in this type of ink jet printer can, at least theoretically, lead to boiling and void formation in the ink.
  • Void formation is the formation of bubbles (i.e., voids) in the ink. Void formation is undesirable because the bubbles resulting from void formation could coalesce and block the nozzle orifice.
  • Blocking the nozzle orifice interferes with proper ejection of the ink from the nozzle, thus leading to undesirable printing defects in the output image.
  • this printer addresses the problem of banding, it does not expressly address the potential for void formation. Therefore, yet another problem in the art is the potential for void formation caused by excessive heating of the ink.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus and method adapted to control ink droplet volume, so that printing of anomalous non-uniformities, such as "banding", are avoided and so that print density can be controllably varied to provide gray-scaling at each dot or pixel and so that the potential for void formation in the ink is reduced.
  • the invention in its broad form resides in an imaging apparatus, comprising a nozzle for ejecting print fluid therefrom, the print fluid having a volume defined by heat energy supplied to the print fluid and having a potential for void formation; a heater adapted to be in heat transfer communication with the print fluid for supplying the heat energy to the print fluid; and a controller connected to the heater for variably controlling a plurality of voltage pulses supplied to the heater in order to variably control the heat energy supplied by the heater, whereby the volume of the print fluid ejected from the nozzle is variably controlled as the controller variably controls the heat energy and whereby the potential for void formation in the print fluid is reduced as the controller variably controls the heat energy.
  • a feature of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of heater elements associated with respective ones of a plurality of nozzles, each heater element being in heat transfer communication with print fluid in the nozzle for heating the print fluid.
  • Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a controller connected to the heater elements for supplying a plurality of voltage pulses to each of the heater elements, the pulses having a predetermined pulse amplitude and a predetermined pulse width to control the volume of print fluid released from the nozzle, the pulses being separated by a predetermined delay interval in order to reduce the potential for void formation in the print fluid.
  • Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of a memory unit connected to the controller for storing values of print density as a function of ink droplet volume for each nozzle, the memory unit capable of informing the controller of the correct ink droplet volume required from each nozzle in order to obtain a uniform print density for the output image and to obtain a desired gray-scale level at each dot or pixel.
  • Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a memory unit connected to the controller for storing values of ink droplet volume as a function of voltage pulse amplitude and voltage pulse width supplied to each nozzle, the memory unit capable of informing the controller of the pulse amplitude and pulse width to be supplied to each nozzle in order to obtain a desired ink droplet volume from each nozzle.
  • An advantage of the present invention is that use thereof eliminates visual printing defects, such as "banding", even in the presence of variations in such physical attributes as electrical resistance of the heater, variation in the diameter of the nozzle orifice, and/or the presence of damaged nozzles.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that use thereof provides for multi-density scales (i.e., gray-scaling) at each dot or pixel location without use of an electromechanical transducer.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that use thereof reduces the potential for void formation in the ink to be ejected from the nozzle.
  • Imaging apparatus 10 capable of varying ink droplet volume at each pixel of an output image, capable of producing the output image so that the output image lacks printing defects such as "banding", and capable of reducing the potential for void formation in the ink droplet.
  • Imaging apparatus 10 comprises a printer, generally referred to as 20, electrically connected to an input source 30 for reasons disclosed hereinbelow.
  • Input source 30 may provide raster image data from a scanner or computer, outline image data in the form of a page description language, or other form of digital image data.
  • the output signal generated by input source 30 is received by a controller 40, for reasons disclosed in detail hereinbelow.
  • controller 40 processes the output signal generated by input source 30 and generates a controller output signal that is received by a print head 45 which is capable of printing on a recorder medium 50.
  • Recorder medium 50 is reciprocatingly fed past print head 45 at a predetermined feed rate by a plurality of rollers 60 (only some of which are shown). More specifically, recorder medium 50 is reciprocatingly moved adjacent print head 45 in order to sequentially apply four colors (i.e., red, green, blue and black) of an input image file onto recorder medium 50.
  • Recorder medium 50 is fed, by rollers 60, from an input supply tray 70 containing a supply of recorder medium 50.
  • Each line of image information from input source 30 is printed on recorder medium 50 as that line of image information is communicated from input source 30 to controller 40. Controller 40 in turn communicates that line of image information to print head 45 as recorder medium 50 moves relative to print head 45. When a completely printed image is formed on recorder medium 50, recorder medium 50 exits the interior of printer 20 to be deposited in an output tray 80 for retrieval by an operator of imaging apparatus 10.
  • print head 45 is used in the singular, it is appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the terminology “print head 45” is intended also to include its plural form because there may be, for example, four print heads 45, each of the print heads 45 being respectively dedicated to printing one of the previously mentioned four colors (i.e., red, green, blue and black).
  • print head 45 which belongs to printer 20, is there shown in operative condition for printing an image on recorder medium 50.
  • Print head 45 comprises a plurality of ink fluid cavities 90 for holding print fluid, such as a body of ink 100.
  • a nozzle 110 for allowing ink 100 to exit cavity 90 under a suitable back pressure (e.g., 15 psi).
  • each nozzle 110 includes a generally circular orifice 120 in fluid communication with ink 100.
  • Orifice 120 which is disposed proximate recorder medium 50, opens toward recorder medium 50 for depositing ink 100 onto recorder medium 50.
  • surrounding orifice 120 is a generally annular electrothermal actuator (i.e., an electrical resistance heater element) 130 for heating ink 100.
  • each heater 130 is in heat transfer communication with ink 100.
  • a voltage supply unit 140 is electrically connected to print head 45 (via controller 40) for supplying a plurality of controlled voltage pulses to each heater 130, for reasons disclosed in detail hereinbelow.
  • Controller 40 controls the pulse amplitude, pulse width and delay interval between voltage pulses so that ink droplet volume at each nozzle 110 is controlled in order to control print density produced by each nozzle 110 and so that the potential for void formation in ink body 100 is reduced as ink body 100 is heated.
  • Controlling print density at each nozzle 110 allows "gray scale” printing at each nozzle 110 and eliminates undesirable “banding", as described more fully hereinbelow. Moreover, controlling the potential for void formation in ink body 100 reduces risk of blocking orifice 120 by coalescence of bubbles thereat.
  • an ink bulge, meniscus or droplet 150 outwardly emerges from orifice 120 as resistance heater 130 increases temperature in order to heat droplet 150.
  • This heating of droplet 150 results in a localized decrease in surface tension of droplet 150, so that droplet 150 is eventually released from orifice 120 when the surface tension becomes insufficient to overcome the back-pressure acting on droplet 150.
  • Fig. 7 shows droplet 150 separated from ink body 100 and ejected from orifice 120 as it is propelled outwardly toward recorder medium 50 to establish an ink mark upon recorder medium 50. Droplet 150 eventually will be intercepted by recorder medium 50 to "soak into” and be absorbed by recorder medium 50.
  • the image printed onto recorder medium 50 should possess a uniform print density to avoid banding and should produce an appropriate gray-scale at each dot or pixel of the image.
  • the amount of heat energy supplied to ink body 100 by heater 130 should not be in an amount to cause void formation in ink body 100.
  • banding i.e., print density non-uniformity
  • Banding is usually caused by variability in the diameter of orifice 120 or by variability in electrical resistance among resistance heaters 130. Even small variations in diameter and electrical resistance can lead to visible "banding".
  • ink body 100 it is known that excessive heating of ink body 100 or excessive heat energy input to ink body 100 raises at least the potential for boiling or void formation in ink body 100.
  • Void formation in ink body 100 is undesirable because the bubbles resulting from void formation may coalesce and block orifice 120, thereby interfering with proper ejection of ink from orifice 120. Interference with ejection of ink from orifice 120 produces defects in the output image printed on recorder medium 50.
  • the present invention supplies a plurality or series of voltage pulses to each heater 130 and controls the pulse amplitude, pulse width and delay interval between pulses. Controlling these control parameters compensate for physical anomalies (e.g., variations in the diameter of orifice 120, and/or variations in electrical resistance of heaters 130) associated with individual nozzles 110 to obtain uniform print density on recorder medium 50 and "gray-scaling" at each dot or pixel and also reduces the potential for void formation in ink body 100. This result is attainable because controlling the voltage pulse amplitude and/or voltage pulse width controls the surface tension of ink droplet 150, which in turn controls the volume of ink released from each nozzle 110.
  • physical anomalies e.g., variations in the diameter of orifice 120, and/or variations in electrical resistance of heaters 130
  • This result is attainable because controlling the voltage pulse amplitude and/or voltage pulse width controls the surface tension of ink droplet 150, which in turn controls the volume of ink released from each nozzle 110.
  • controlling the volume of ink released from each nozzle 110 controls the print density and the amount of gray-scaling provided by each nozzle 110.
  • controlling the delay interval between pulses controls the rate at which heat energy is supplied to ink body 100, so as to reduce the potential for void formation in ink body 100.
  • each nozzle 110 of a selected print head 45 is calibrated.
  • a plurality of test images are produced with print head 45 to determine the print density (i.e., droplet volume) produced by each nozzle 110 given a predetermined voltage pulse amplitude and pulse width supplied to each of the heaters 130 associated with respective ones of the nozzles 110.
  • This data is then stored in a memory unit or semiconductor chip 160, which is connected to controller 40 (see Fig. 1).
  • Chip 160 may, for example, be a Read-Only-Memory (ROM) semiconductor computer chip.
  • Controller 40 is informed by the values of pulse amplitude and pulse width stored in chip 160 as to the correct pulse amplitude and pulse width to apply to each nozzle 110 in order to obtain uniform print density among nozzles 110 and in order to obtain the desired gray-scale level at each dot or pixel of the output image.
  • Fig. 8 shows a plurality of voltage pulses supplied to a selected heater 130 for controlling droplet volume released from nozzle 110 associated with heater 130.
  • Each of the pulses has an identical pulse amplitude V p and an identical pulse width T, the voltage pulses being spaced-apart by a predetermined delay interval ⁇ .
  • Each pulse belonging to these intermittent voltage pulses allows the heated ink droplet 150 to move out of the vicinity of heater 130 before the next pulse is supplied.
  • This technique extends heating time and increases the volume of ink droplet 150.
  • this string of pulses also effectively merge any separate droplets into one droplet to increase the density scale (i.e., gray-scale) at each dot or pixel of the output image.
  • pulse amplitude V p , pulse width T and delay interval ⁇ are chosen so that the amount of heat energy supplied to ink 100 is never sufficient to induce bubbles or void formation in ink 100.
  • pulse amplitude V p , pulse width T and delay interval ⁇ are chosen so that the amount of heat energy supplied to ink 100 is never sufficient to induce bubbles or void formation in ink 100.
  • This is primarily due to the presence of delay interval ⁇ and an otherwise reduced value of pulse amplitude V p .
  • boiling in ink 100 is precluded by use of the invention because heat energy supplied to ink 100 to sufficiently reduce the surface tension of droplet 150 occurs over a longer time than in the case of a single pulse.
  • the rate of heat energy supplied to ink 100 is less using the plurality of pulses of Fig. 8 than with a single pulse.
  • delay interval ⁇ need not be a constant value and, thus, may vary among the pulses.
  • Fig. 9 shows a plurality of voltage pulses supplied to a selected heater 130 for controlling droplet volume released from nozzle 110 associated with heater 130.
  • Each of the pulses has an identical pulse amplitude V p and pulse widths T decreasing with respect to time, the voltage pulses being spaced-apart by a predetermined delay interval ⁇ .
  • pulse amplitude V p , pulse width T and delay interval ⁇ are chosen so that the amount of heat energy supplied to ink 100 is never sufficient to induce bubbles or void formation in ink 100.
  • the pulse widths T shown in Fig. 9 are greater earlier during heat energy input to ink 100 in order to supply the maximum amount of heat energy subject to a constraint that boiling not be induced in ink 100.
  • the pulses are spaced-apart by delay interval ⁇ to reduce the potential for boiling.
  • Fig. 10 shows a plurality of voltage pulses supplied to a selected heater 130 for controlling droplet volume released from nozzle 110 associated with heater 130.
  • the pulses have pulse amplitudes V p decreasing with respect to time and identical pulse widths T, the voltage pulses being spaced-apart by a predetermined delay interval ⁇ .
  • the pulse amplitudes V p shown in Fig. 10 are greater earlier during heat energy input to ink 100 in order to supply the maximum amount of heat energy subject to the constraint that boiling not be induced in ink 100.
  • the pulses are spaced-apart by delay interval ⁇ to reduce the potential for boiling.
  • an advantage of the present invention is that images of uniform print density are provided even in the presence of variations in physical attributes such as electrical resistance of the heaters 130 and/or diameter of the nozzle orifices 120. This is so because each nozzle 110 is calibrated to compensate for such variability among nozzles 110. This eliminates visual printing defects, such as "banding".
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that each nozzle 110 is capable of obtaining gray-scale printing simultaneously with obtaining uniform print density because the volume of ink released by each nozzle 110 is controlled.
  • Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the potential for void formation in the ink is reduced. This is so because an otherwise single voltage pulse is partitioned into a plurality of spaced-apart pulses in order to avoid excessive heating of the ink.
  • an imaging apparatus and method for providing images of uniform print density so that printing non-uniformities, such as banding, are avoided, so that gray-scaling can be achieved at each dot or pixel of the output image, and so that the potential for void formation is reduced.

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  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP98200819A 1997-03-26 1998-03-16 Bilderzeugungsgerät und angepasstes Verfahren zur Regelung des Volumes von Tintentröpfchen und der Bläschenerzeugung Withdrawn EP0867284A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US82635797A 1997-03-26 1997-03-26
US826357 1997-03-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0867284A2 true EP0867284A2 (de) 1998-09-30
EP0867284A3 EP0867284A3 (de) 1999-08-25

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EP98200819A Withdrawn EP0867284A3 (de) 1997-03-26 1998-03-16 Bilderzeugungsgerät und angepasstes Verfahren zur Regelung des Volumes von Tintentröpfchen und der Bläschenerzeugung

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EP (1) EP0867284A3 (de)
JP (1) JPH10264370A (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1307347A1 (de) * 2000-08-11 2003-05-07 Spectra, Inc. Tintenstrahldrucken
GB2448119A (en) * 2007-01-25 2008-10-08 Inca Digital Printers Ltd Controlling droplet size in inkjet printing
US7556358B2 (en) 1998-10-16 2009-07-07 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Micro-electromechanical integrated circuit device with laminated actuators
WO2019037431A1 (en) * 2017-08-23 2019-02-28 Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. LIQUID DISTRIBUTION QUANTITY CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS
US10654290B2 (en) 2017-08-23 2020-05-19 Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd. Liquid dispensing amount control apparatus and control method thereof and inkjet printing apparatus

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4748895B2 (ja) * 1999-09-21 2011-08-17 パナソニック株式会社 インクジェットヘッド及びインクジェット式記録装置
US6488349B1 (en) 1999-09-21 2002-12-03 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Ink-jet head and ink-jet type recording apparatus
JP6743456B2 (ja) * 2016-03-31 2020-08-19 ブラザー工業株式会社 印刷装置

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4563689A (en) 1983-02-05 1986-01-07 Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Method for ink-jet recording and apparatus therefor

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