EP0981105A1 - Procédé de compensation d'erreur d'une unité de génération de points dans un système d'impression - Google Patents

Procédé de compensation d'erreur d'une unité de génération de points dans un système d'impression Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0981105A1
EP0981105A1 EP99202646A EP99202646A EP0981105A1 EP 0981105 A1 EP0981105 A1 EP 0981105A1 EP 99202646 A EP99202646 A EP 99202646A EP 99202646 A EP99202646 A EP 99202646A EP 0981105 A1 EP0981105 A1 EP 0981105A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printhead
unit
printing
pass
nozzles
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Withdrawn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
EP99202646A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Johannes Paulus Hubertus Oyen
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.)
Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
Oce Technologies BV
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Oce Technologies BV filed Critical Oce Technologies BV
Priority to EP99202646A priority Critical patent/EP0981105A1/fr
Publication of EP0981105A1 publication Critical patent/EP0981105A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
    • B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
    • B41J2/2139—Compensation for malfunctioning nozzles creating dot place or dot size errors
    • 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
    • B41J2/485—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by the process of building-up characters or image elements applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes
    • B41J2/505—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by the process of building-up characters or image elements applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes from an assembly of identical printing elements
    • B41J2/5056—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by the process of building-up characters or image elements applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes from an assembly of identical printing elements using dot arrays providing selective dot disposition modes, e.g. different dot densities for high speed and high-quality printing, array line selections for multi-pass printing, or dot shifts for character inclination

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of compensating failure of a dot generating unit in a printing system including a multiple-unit printhead scanning an image receiving medium in line direction and capable of printing several lines at a time, wherein multi-pass printing and interleaved line feed are employed and wherein as a unit fails the image information associated with that unit for each pass of the printhead is printed with at least one other unit of the printhead during at least one of the other passes.
  • a multiple-unit printhead comprises a plurality of dot generating units arranged in an array which extends perpendicular to the direction of the printing lines on the image receiving medium.
  • image dots can be printed simultaneously in a plurality of lines, while the printhead performs a single scanning stroke or pass across the image receiving medium.
  • each dot generating unit is formed by a single nozzle and an associated actuator system by which ink droplets are jetted out from the nozzle in response to drop demand signal signal supplied thereto in accordance with the image information to be printed.
  • Multi-pass printing means that only part of the image information is printed in a single pass of the printhead, i.e. during the movement of the printhead in a unique direction over the entire length of the line, and the printed line is completed in one or more subsequent passes. For example, in case of a two-pass system, every second dot or pixel is printed during the forward pass of the printhead and the missing dots are inserted during the other pass.
  • Interleaved line feed means that at least two different units or nozzles of the printhead contribute to the printing of each image line. This is achieved by feeding the image recording medium in the direction normal to the image lines in steps that have a width smaller than the extension of the nozzle array in that direction, so that the nozzle array sweeps at least twice over each location on the receiving medium.
  • JP-A-60-104 335 discloses an ink jet printer, in which additional nozzles are provided in reserve on the printhead. If one of the regular nozzles fails, the printing pattern is changed, so that one or more of the reserve nozzles are activated in order to compensate for the failure. In this system, however, the number of usable nozzles is always limited to the maximal number of consecutive nozzles in the array that are operative. As a result, a certain loss of production of the printer must generally be expected, depending on the location where the nozzle failure occurs.
  • the unit which prints also the image information associated with the inoperative unit is operated with n times the operating frequency of the other units, and the printhead is moved in scanning direction with the same speed as in the case where all units are operative.
  • the nozzle or nozzles that have to take over the task of the inoperative nozzle will be required to generate more dots than during normal operation. This means that either the scanning speed of the printhead must be reduced or the nozzle must be capable of generating dots at a higher frequency than under normal conditions.
  • existing printheads e.g. ink jet printheads with piezoelectric actuators
  • the upper limit for the operating frequency of the dot generating units of a multiple-unit printhead is generally imposed by cross-talk among the various units.
  • the printhead has to absorb reaction forces caused by the piezoelectric actuators, and this leads to a certain noise which adversely influences the performance of the neighboring nozzles.
  • this phenomenon becomes significant only when almost all of the nozzles operate at a high frequency.
  • the cross-talk effects are generally tolerable.
  • the invention permits to significantly extend the maintenance intervals for a printer, especially for a color printer in which the likelyhood of nozzle failure is multiplied because one printhead must be provided for each color.
  • the function of the dot generating units is automatically checked at regular intervals, for example after each scan cycle or after a certain number of scan cycles, and when it has been detected that an individual unit has become inoperative, the compensation procedure according to the invention is initiated automatically by appropiately changing the timings in which the units are activated and the pattern in which the image information is supplied thereto.
  • This function can easily be implemented in the control software of the printer and can be initiated "on the fly", i.e. without interrupting the operation of the printer.
  • an ink jet printer comprises a platen 10 for supporting and feeding a sheet of paper 12 which forms an image receiving medium.
  • the platen 10 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis as is indicated by an arrow A.
  • a carriage 14 carrying four printheads 16 for four different printing colours is movable back and forth in a direction indicated by arrows B parallel to the platen 10, so that the printheads 16 scan the paper 12 in line direction.
  • the carriage 14 is guided on guide rods 18, 20 and is driven by suitable drive means (not shown) such as a cable or the like.
  • each printhead 16 has eight nozzles 22 which form a linear array extending normal to the line direction, i.e. in circumferential direction of the platen 10. In a practical embodiment the number of nozzles per printhead may be considerably larger.
  • Each nozzle 22 is associated with an actuator system which is arranged inside of the printhead 16 and is not shown in the drawing. Together with its associated actuator system each nozzle 22 forms a dot generating unit which can be energized to expel ink droplets onto the paper 12 so that dots are formed on the paper.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates the case that one of the eight nozzles, designated as 22', has become inoperative, for example because of an air bubble trapped in the actuator system. As a result, the odd-numbered dots 26 cannot be printed in line 7 during the forward pass of the printhead.
  • the nozzle 22' must operate with twice the normal operating frequency, at least when a "black" area is to be printed, that is, when all dots of the line must actually be printed.
  • the normal operating frequency of the nozzles may be 10 kHz, and the printhead 16 may travel at a speed of 0,8 m/s.
  • the nozzle 22' fails, the nozzle 22" will operate at 20 kHz, and the scanning speed of the printhead 16 will be kept at 0,8 m/s.
  • each nozzle that becomes inoperative has two partners which are capable of taking-over its function, so that the system would be even more robust.
  • the nozzles that take-over must be capable of operating with three times the normal operating speed, although they may share their task.
  • a detector 30 may be provided for checking in certain intervals, e.g. when the carriage 14 reaches a home position after a complete scan cycle, whether all the nozzles 22 of all printheads 16 are still operative. When a failure of one of the nozzles is detected, the procedure illustrated in Fig. 4 is initiated automatically.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
EP99202646A 1998-08-17 1999-08-13 Procédé de compensation d'erreur d'une unité de génération de points dans un système d'impression Withdrawn EP0981105A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99202646A EP0981105A1 (fr) 1998-08-17 1999-08-13 Procédé de compensation d'erreur d'une unité de génération de points dans un système d'impression

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98202785 1998-08-17
EP98202785 1998-08-17
EP99202646A EP0981105A1 (fr) 1998-08-17 1999-08-13 Procédé de compensation d'erreur d'une unité de génération de points dans un système d'impression

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0981105A1 true EP0981105A1 (fr) 2000-02-23

Family

ID=26150632

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99202646A Withdrawn EP0981105A1 (fr) 1998-08-17 1999-08-13 Procédé de compensation d'erreur d'une unité de génération de points dans un système d'impression

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0981105A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002002330A1 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-10 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Tolerance aux anomalies d'une imprimante a jet d'encre par utilisation de points d'encre supplementaires
WO2002002331A1 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-10 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Tolerance de defaut pour jet d'encre au moyen de tuyaux adjacents
EP1211078A1 (fr) * 2000-11-29 2002-06-05 Hewlett-Packard Company Système de surveillance thermique pour l'évaluation de l'état de buse
AU2000253741B2 (en) * 2000-06-30 2004-05-06 Memjet Technology Limited Ink jet fault tolerance using extra ink dots
EP1452319A1 (fr) 2003-02-26 2004-09-01 Océ-Technologies B.V. Méthode d'impression et imprimante avec compensation de défaillance
US7104626B2 (en) 2003-02-26 2006-09-12 Oce-Technologies B.V. Printing method and printer with failure compensation

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4498088A (en) 1981-07-28 1985-02-05 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet air bubble detection
JPS60104335A (ja) 1983-11-10 1985-06-08 Canon Inc インクジエツト記録装置
EP0616893A2 (fr) * 1993-03-26 1994-09-28 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif et méthode pour l'impression par jet d'encre
US5359355A (en) 1991-06-14 1994-10-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus for recording with variable scanning speeds
EP0677390A1 (fr) * 1994-04-14 1995-10-18 OLIVETTI-CANON INDUSTRIALE S.p.A. Procédé pour perfectionner l'impression d'images graphiques et appareil d'impression à jet d'encre correspondant
EP0694396A2 (fr) * 1994-07-21 1996-01-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement pour enregistrement complémentaire et méthode d'enregistrement
EP0729838A1 (fr) * 1995-03-03 1996-09-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Procédé d'impression perfectionné
EP0783973A2 (fr) * 1995-12-28 1997-07-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Méthode et appareil d'impression

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4498088A (en) 1981-07-28 1985-02-05 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet air bubble detection
JPS60104335A (ja) 1983-11-10 1985-06-08 Canon Inc インクジエツト記録装置
US5359355A (en) 1991-06-14 1994-10-25 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus for recording with variable scanning speeds
EP0616893A2 (fr) * 1993-03-26 1994-09-28 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif et méthode pour l'impression par jet d'encre
EP0677390A1 (fr) * 1994-04-14 1995-10-18 OLIVETTI-CANON INDUSTRIALE S.p.A. Procédé pour perfectionner l'impression d'images graphiques et appareil d'impression à jet d'encre correspondant
EP0694396A2 (fr) * 1994-07-21 1996-01-31 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement pour enregistrement complémentaire et méthode d'enregistrement
EP0729838A1 (fr) * 1995-03-03 1996-09-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Procédé d'impression perfectionné
EP0783973A2 (fr) * 1995-12-28 1997-07-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Méthode et appareil d'impression

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002002330A1 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-10 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Tolerance aux anomalies d'une imprimante a jet d'encre par utilisation de points d'encre supplementaires
WO2002002331A1 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-10 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Tolerance de defaut pour jet d'encre au moyen de tuyaux adjacents
US6428139B1 (en) 2000-06-30 2002-08-06 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd. Ink jet fault tolerance using extra ink dots
US6575549B1 (en) 2000-06-30 2003-06-10 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Ink jet fault tolerance using adjacent nozzles
AU2000253741B2 (en) * 2000-06-30 2004-05-06 Memjet Technology Limited Ink jet fault tolerance using extra ink dots
EP1211078A1 (fr) * 2000-11-29 2002-06-05 Hewlett-Packard Company Système de surveillance thermique pour l'évaluation de l'état de buse
US6460964B2 (en) 2000-11-29 2002-10-08 Hewlett-Packard Company Thermal monitoring system for determining nozzle health
EP1452319A1 (fr) 2003-02-26 2004-09-01 Océ-Technologies B.V. Méthode d'impression et imprimante avec compensation de défaillance
US7104626B2 (en) 2003-02-26 2006-09-12 Oce-Technologies B.V. Printing method and printer with failure compensation

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