EP1857282B1 - Method for clearing the jet of an ink printhead - Google Patents

Method for clearing the jet of an ink printhead Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1857282B1
EP1857282B1 EP07007958A EP07007958A EP1857282B1 EP 1857282 B1 EP1857282 B1 EP 1857282B1 EP 07007958 A EP07007958 A EP 07007958A EP 07007958 A EP07007958 A EP 07007958A EP 1857282 B1 EP1857282 B1 EP 1857282B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nozzles
print
free
printed image
relevant
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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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP07007958A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1857282A1 (en
Inventor
Uwe Hübler
Axel Kieser
Olaf Turner
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Francotyp Postalia GmbH
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Francotyp Postalia GmbH
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1857282A1 publication Critical patent/EP1857282A1/en
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Publication of EP1857282B1 publication Critical patent/EP1857282B1/en
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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
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/165—Prevention or detection of nozzle clogging, e.g. cleaning, capping or moistening for nozzles
    • B41J2/16517—Cleaning of print head nozzles
    • B41J2/1652—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head
    • B41J2/16526—Cleaning of print head nozzles by driving a fluid through the nozzles to the outside thereof, e.g. by applying pressure to the inside or vacuum at the outside of the print head by applying pressure only
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00516—Details of printing apparatus
    • G07B2017/00556—Ensuring quality of print

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for the free spraying of the nozzles of an ink jet print head, in particular in a franking and / or addressing machine.
  • free spraying For the cleaning of the nozzles of the ink print head, the "free spraying" and / or “priming” is common.
  • free spraying is meant the single or multiple actuation of one or more nozzles.
  • primary means a multiple consecutive free-spraying of all nozzles. Free spraying is therefore the ink-saving form of keeping the nozzles of an ink jet print head clean.
  • a postage meter machine with an ink jet printhead is known, see EP 0 696 509 B1 and US 5,806,994 in which the letters are transported horizontally and the nozzle surface is arranged parallel thereto. With this machine, the nozzles that are little or unused during printing are sprayed free as long as there is no letter in front of the print head.
  • the letter transport device is provided with corresponding recesses and arranged below the same a collecting container for the sprayed ink. The ink consumption is reduced in this way compared to the priming, but the horizontal letter transport and appropriate design measures are a prerequisite.
  • an ink printer with a variable cleaning algorithm is known, see EP 0 934 828 A2 , in which past franking imprints are recorded and evaluated - historical log - and from this a cleaning regime is derived.
  • the "historical log” records information on maximum downtime, weekly mail flow and the number and type of processing per week. This does not take into account the nature of the impressions and thus the actual actuation of the individual nozzles.
  • an apparatus for cleaning an ink jet print head has been found in a franking and / or addressing machine, see DE 10 2005 052 150.9-27 in which the inkjet print head is stationarily but pivotally mounted behind a guide plate in a print window.
  • the print carrier by means of a transport device the over the vertical inclined guide plate adjacent and guided along an edge.
  • the cleaning and sealing device is like the ink jet head behind the guide plate adjustable on the same and arranged away from the same.
  • the ink jet print head can be swiveled by means of associated adjustment means selectively into a print position or into different cleaning areas as well as into a sealing position.
  • the nozzle surface of the ink jet print head is arranged parallel to the guide plate and thus also to the print carrier.
  • the inkjet print head is pivoted away from the print position so far that at least twice the distance to the print carrier exists, but all the ink drops still reach the print carrier.
  • the effect is exploited that from twice the provided printing distance, the ink droplets drop into correspondingly smaller satellite drops whose range is so large that no recognizable print pattern is given more.
  • this method is only limited applicable due to the inertia of the inkjet print head to be pivoted. The speed of rotation is also limited to avoid unwanted ejection of ink
  • an ink printing device is known, see EP 1 205 307 A2 in which, while maintaining the printing position, in addition to the respective print image, a print image serving exclusively for free spraying is applied to the print carrier in a mode irrelevant to the print image evaluation.
  • the free spray points are designed correspondingly smaller.
  • the free spraying takes place after the relevant pressure after a predetermined time as a function of temperature and humidity, see Fig.2 and claims 6 to 12, or after the last printed image, see Figures 6A and 6B and paragraph 0081.
  • the free spraying takes place as a separate process according to generally statistical values. Free-spraying and printed image are arranged separately from each other here. According to paragraph 0082 are free-splash intervals timed, that is, after the last operation, the individual nozzle is sprayed after a specified time. This happens regardless of the print job after execution of the same.
  • a printing device with service routine is known, see US 2003/0081045 A1 with which the print carrier can be printed, glued and sealed. Sprayed into an irrelevant area of the print carrier. Taking into account the transport and printing speed, the print carrier size and sections / folds as well as evaluation of the print job, an irrelevant information area is determined on the print carrier. This information area is recorded and determined in a spray-free position unit. Analogously, the relevant information area for the print positions is determined and recorded in a print control unit. An irrelevant information area is the fold area or an area which is cut away after the pressure or free-injection process. The free spatter result is initially visible. In addition, the printing of a specified test pattern is envisaged, see paragraph 0064, which will subsequently be read. It is checked whether the actuated nozzles have printed.
  • the purpose of the invention is an improvement in the print quality and an extension of the life of the printing device and the largest possible letter throughput.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a method for free spraying of the nozzles of an ink jet print head in a franking and / or addressing machine, in which the transport speed of the print carrier is unlimited and which is suitable for horizontally positioned as well as standing on an edge print carrier transport ,
  • the invention is based on the fact that it is now common in countries with large letters to provide postal items - in particular letters - with machine-readable coded relevant printed images (indicia imprint including clichés) to avoid lost postage and for security reasons. This is done in the form of bar codes or more modern in the form of two-dimensional bar codes, see for example DE 20 2005 000 255 U1 ,
  • the individual evaluable pixels (pixels) of a printed image consist of a plurality of printing dots.
  • a pressure point is created by a single operation of a nozzle. With a pixel size of 0.5 mm edge length, a print density of 200 dpi (dots per inch) would result in around 600 print dots per pixel.
  • the nozzles which are not involved in the production of the respective print image be sprayed onto the current print carrier in a mode irrelevant to the print image evaluation.
  • the pressure points can be inserted in both the so-called white and black pixels as well as elsewhere arranged, without distorting the information content.
  • the current print image job is evaluated and then supplemented accordingly to a resulting print image job. If only the unused or rarely used nozzles are sprayed free, the optimum amount of ink is saved. By maintaining the print position, time is saved and the letter throughput is optimized.
  • a complete indicia imprint according to 1a consists of the traditional franking imprint, the franking imprint in the two-dimensional barcode, an advertising cliché and other additional services, such as a one-dimensional address bar code arranged underneath.
  • In 1b shows a partial area of the franking imprint is represented in the two-dimensional barcode.
  • the pixels p are composed of a large number of dots d.
  • Fig. 1c is the area after Fig. 1b so far enlarged shown that on the one hand the dimensions of a pixel in the x and y coordinate direction are clearly visible and on the other hand individual dots d of the free-spray image can be seen, which are within the white pixels of the relevant printed image Dr. It becomes clear that these dots are inevitably disregarded in an evaluation system oriented to the pixel size.
  • Fig. 2a the case is shown in which the free-jet dots - deviating from the reality - are arranged distributed over the relevant print image Dr and the remaining print carrier B.
  • Fig. 2b the spray-free dots are distributed to regions in which the nozzles for generating the relevant printed image Dr are hardly or not actuated. This particularly applies to the upper and lower edge area of the maximum pressure range.
  • the free-floating dots d are arranged in subregions after the two-dimensional barcode in such a way that there are two perpendicular, aligned printing lines.
  • the frzuspritzenden nozzles are all actuated simultaneously. In this case, it is assumed that all nozzles provided for the barcode area are operated.
  • This variant has the same effect as the one after Fig. 2b and therefore equally advantageous.
  • Fig. 2d the free-jet dots d are arranged in partial areas in front of the franking imprint in bar form. Otherwise the conditions analogous to those in Fig. 2c , In both cases, a multiple free spraying is allowed.
  • Fig. 3 a block diagram of the printer driver is shown. It contains a memory 1 for the relevant printed image.
  • the relevant printed image Dr contains information relating to postage, date of posting, postage meter, advertising cliché and supplementary letter services, such as express mail or Infopost. The information for this is determined via upstream facilities, such as the letter scale and dimensional scanner as well as sender requests.
  • the memory 1 is connected to a microprocessor 5 bidirectionally. To the microprocessor 5 also the franking data input 3 is connected unidirectionally coming. The data supplied by the franking data input 3 are processed further in the microprocessor 5 for the current print image job and temporarily stored in the memory 1. In the microprocessor 5, a supplementary irrelevant print image job is derived from the current relevant print image job.
  • a memory 4 is also bidirectionally connected to the microprocessor 5, in which the resulting print image job for the relevant and irrelevant print image Dr, Db is temporarily stored.
  • the microprocessor 5 is unidirectionally connected to a printing device 6, which receives from the former the drive data As for the current resulting print image D and prints it out.
  • Fig. 4 is the associated flow chart for the block diagram after Fig. 3 shown.
  • a print carrier B in the postage meter whose leading edge passes a sensor and thus triggers the start S for the print job Da from.
  • the franking pressure calculation Drb and then the franking printing preparation Drv are temporarily stored in the memory 1.
  • Frankierdruckaufleung Drv at the same time fall to the information on which nozzles are activated to what extent. This information is compared with unused nozzles K1 and K2 nozzles used by the microprocessor and then prepares an irrelevant printed image Dbv first.
  • an irrelevant print image Dbb is calculated and stored as the current irrelevant print image Db.
  • the data for the relevant print image Dr and the irrelevant print image Db are combined to form a print image Dv.
  • the data thus combined are buffered as the resulting print image D in the memory 4.
  • these data are transmitted to the printing device 6 as drive data As.
  • the printing process is finished.
  • only the data for the relevant print image Dr serve as drive data for the printing device.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)
  • Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)

Abstract

The method involves maintaining the printing position for the ink-jet print head. The nozzles are not involved in the production of the relevant print format while maintaining the printing position. The nozzles are free-sprayed on the current printing carrier in a mode, which is irrelevant for the printing format evaluation. The printing carriers are guided along a stationarily arranged ink-jet print head.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Freispritzen der Düsen eines Tintendruckkopfes, insbesondere in einer Frankier- und/oder Adressiermaschine.The invention relates to a method for the free spraying of the nozzles of an ink jet print head, in particular in a franking and / or addressing machine.

Es hat sich bewährt, die Vorteile des Tintendrucks auch auf dem Gebiet der maschinellen Frankierung und/oder Adressierung zu nutzen. Der Druck erfolgt hierbei berührungslos mittels Tintendruckkopf, siehe beispielsweise DE 44 24 771 C1 und EP 0 696 509 B1 . Allerdings hat die Tintendrucktechnik den Nachteil, daß für die Reinigung des Tintendruckkopfes oft mehr Tinte verbraucht wird als für den Druckvorgang. Das ist bei Einzeldruck besonders gravierend.It has been proven to take advantage of ink printing also in the field of machine franking and / or addressing. The printing takes place without contact by means of ink print head, see for example DE 44 24 771 C1 and EP 0 696 509 B1 , However, the ink printing technique has the disadvantage that often more ink is consumed for cleaning the ink print head than for printing. This is particularly serious in individual printing.

Für die Reinigung der Düsen des Tintendruckkopfes ist das "Freispritzen" und/oder "Primen" üblich.
Unter "Freispritzen" ist die ein- oder mehrmalige Betätigung einer oder mehrerer Düsen zu verstehen. Im Unterschied dazu bedeutet "Primen" ein vielfaches hintereinander Freispritzen aller Düsen. Freispritzen ist demzufolge die tintensparende Form der Reinhaltung der Düsen eines Tintendruckkopfes.For the cleaning of the nozzles of the ink print head, the "free spraying" and / or "priming" is common.
By "free spraying" is meant the single or multiple actuation of one or more nozzles. In contrast, "priming" means a multiple consecutive free-spraying of all nozzles. Free spraying is therefore the ink-saving form of keeping the nozzles of an ink jet print head clean.

Es ist eine Frankiermaschine mit einem Tintenstrahl-Druckkopf bekannt, siehe EP 0 696 509 B1 und US 5 806 994 , bei der die Briefe waagerecht liegend transportiert werden und die Düsenfläche parallel dazu angeordnet ist. Bei dieser Maschine werden die beim Druck wenig oder nicht benutzten Düsen freigespritzt, solange kein Brief vor dem Druckkopf vorliegt. Zu diesem Zweck ist die Brieftransporteinrichtung mit entsprechenden Ausnehmungen versehen und unterhalb derselben ein Auffangbehälter für die freigespritzte Tinte angeordnet. Der Tintenverbrauch wird auf diese Weise gegenüber dem Primen reduziert, allerdings sind aber der waagerechte Brieftransport und entsprechende konstruktive Maßnahmen dafür Voraussetzung.A postage meter machine with an ink jet printhead is known, see EP 0 696 509 B1 and US 5,806,994 in which the letters are transported horizontally and the nozzle surface is arranged parallel thereto. With this machine, the nozzles that are little or unused during printing are sprayed free as long as there is no letter in front of the print head. For this purpose, the letter transport device is provided with corresponding recesses and arranged below the same a collecting container for the sprayed ink. The ink consumption is reduced in this way compared to the priming, but the horizontal letter transport and appropriate design measures are a prerequisite.

Ergänzend dazu ist ein Tintendrucker mit einem variablen Reinigungsalgorithmus bekannt, siehe EP 0 934 828 A2 , bei dem zurückliegende Frankierabdrucke erfaßt und ausgewertet werden - historical log - und daraus ein Reinigungsregime abgeleitet wird. In dem "historical log" werden Informationen über maximale Stillstandszeit, wöchentliches Briefaufkommen sowie Anzahl und Art der Verarbeitungsabläufe pro Woche erfasst. Unberücksichtigt bleibt dabei die Art der Abdrucke und damit die tatsächliche Betätigung der einzelnen Düsen.In addition, an ink printer with a variable cleaning algorithm is known, see EP 0 934 828 A2 , in which past franking imprints are recorded and evaluated - historical log - and from this a cleaning regime is derived. The "historical log" records information on maximum downtime, weekly mail flow and the number and type of processing per week. This does not take into account the nature of the impressions and thus the actual actuation of the individual nozzles.

Andererseits wurde eine Vorrichtung zur Reinigung eines Tintendruckkopfes in einer Frankier- und/oder Adressiermaschine gefunden, siehe DE 10 2005 052 150.9-27 , bei der der Tintendruckkopf stationär aber schwenkbar hinter einer Führungsplatte in einem Druckfenster angeordnet ist. Die Druckträger werden mittels einer Transporteinrichtung an der über die Vertikale hinaus geneigten Führungsplatte anliegend und auf einer Kante stehend entlanggeführt. Die Reinigungs- und Dichtvorrichtung ist wie der Tintendruckkopf hinter der Führungsplatte verstellbar auf denselben zu und von demselben weg angeordnet. Der Tintendruckkopf ist mittels zugeordneter Verstellmittel wahlweise in eine Druckposition oder in verschiedene Reinigungsbereiche sowie in eine Dichtposition schwenkbar.
In der Druckposition ist die Düsenfläche des Tintendruckkopfes parallel zur Führungsplatte und damit auch zum Druckträger angeordnet.
In einem ersten Reinigungsbereich wird der Tintendruckkopf so weit aus der Druckposition weggeschwenkt, daß mindestens der doppelte Abstand zum Druckträger vorliegt, aber alle Tintentropfen noch den Druckträger erreichen. Hierbei wird der Effekt ausgenutzt, daß ab dem doppelten vorgesehenen Druckabstand die Tintendrucktropfen in entsprechend kleinere Satellitentropfen zerfallen, deren Streubereich so groß ist, daß kein erkennbares Druckmuster mehr gegeben ist.
Bei höheren Transportgeschwindigkeiten für die Druckträger ist diese Methode auf Grund der Massenträgheit des zu schwenkenden Tintendruckkopfes nur eingeschränkt anwendbar. Die Geschwindigkeit der Drehbewegung ist auch eingeschränkt, um ein ungewolltes Herausschleudern von Tinte zu vermeidenOn the other hand, an apparatus for cleaning an ink jet print head has been found in a franking and / or addressing machine, see DE 10 2005 052 150.9-27 in which the inkjet print head is stationarily but pivotally mounted behind a guide plate in a print window. The print carrier by means of a transport device the over the vertical inclined guide plate adjacent and guided along an edge. The cleaning and sealing device is like the ink jet head behind the guide plate adjustable on the same and arranged away from the same. The ink jet print head can be swiveled by means of associated adjustment means selectively into a print position or into different cleaning areas as well as into a sealing position.
In the printing position, the nozzle surface of the ink jet print head is arranged parallel to the guide plate and thus also to the print carrier.
In a first cleaning area, the inkjet print head is pivoted away from the print position so far that at least twice the distance to the print carrier exists, but all the ink drops still reach the print carrier. In this case, the effect is exploited that from twice the provided printing distance, the ink droplets drop into correspondingly smaller satellite drops whose range is so large that no recognizable print pattern is given more.
At higher transport speeds for the print carrier, this method is only limited applicable due to the inertia of the inkjet print head to be pivoted. The speed of rotation is also limited to avoid unwanted ejection of ink

Ferner ist eine Tintendruckeinrichtung bekannt, siehe EP 1 205 307 A2 , bei der unter Beibehaltung der Druckposition zusätzlich zu dem jeweiligen Druckbild ein ausschließlich dem Freispritzen dienendes Druckbild in einem für die Druckbildauswertung irrelevanten Modus auf den Druckträger aufgebracht wird. Zu diesem Zweck sind die Freispritzpunkte entsprechend kleiner ausgeführt. Das Freispritzen erfolgt zeitlich nach dem relevanten Druck nach einer vorbestimmten Zeit in Abhängigkeit von Temperatur und Luftfeuchtigkeit, siehe Fig.2 und Anprüche 6 bis 12, oder nach dem letzten Druckbild, siehe Fig.6A und 6B sowie Absatz 0081. Das Freispritzen findet als separater Vorgang nach allgemein statistischen Werten statt. Freispritzbild und Druckbild sind hierbei separat voneinander angeordnet. Gemäß Absatz 0082 sind Freispritzintervalle zeitlich festgelegt, das heißt, nach der letzten Betätigung wird nach einer festgelegten Zeit die einzelne Düse freigespritzt. Das geschieht unabhängig vom Druckauftrag nach Ausführung desselben.Further, an ink printing device is known, see EP 1 205 307 A2 in which, while maintaining the printing position, in addition to the respective print image, a print image serving exclusively for free spraying is applied to the print carrier in a mode irrelevant to the print image evaluation. For this purpose, the free spray points are designed correspondingly smaller. The free spraying takes place after the relevant pressure after a predetermined time as a function of temperature and humidity, see Fig.2 and claims 6 to 12, or after the last printed image, see Figures 6A and 6B and paragraph 0081. The free spraying takes place as a separate process according to generally statistical values. Free-spraying and printed image are arranged separately from each other here. According to paragraph 0082 are free-splash intervals timed, that is, after the last operation, the individual nozzle is sprayed after a specified time. This happens regardless of the print job after execution of the same.

Schließlich ist noch eine Druckeinrichtung mit Service-Routine bekannt, siehe US 2003/0081045 A1 , mit der der Druckträger bedruckt, geklebt und verschlossen werden kann. Freigespritzt wird in einen irrelevanten Bereich des Druckträgers.
Unter Berücksichtigung der Transport- und Druckgeschwindigkeit, der Druckträgergröße und Abschnitte/Falze sowie in Auswertung des Druckauftrages wird ein irrelevanter Informationsbereich auf dem Druckträger ermittelt. Dieser Informationsbereich wird in einer Freispritzpositionseinheit erfasst und festgelegt. Analog dazu wird der relevante Informationsbereich für die Druckpositionen ermittelt und in einer Drucksteuereinheit erfasst. Als irrelevanter Informationsbereich dient der Falzbereich oder ein Bereich , der nach dem Druck- beziehungsweise Freispritzvorgang weggeschnitten wird. Das Freispritzergebnis ist zunächst aber sichtbar.
Daneben ist der Druck eines festgelegten Prüfmusters vorgesehen, siehe Absatz 0064, das anschließend gelesen wird. Dabei wird überprüft, ob die betätigten Düsen auch gedruckt haben.Finally, a printing device with service routine is known, see US 2003/0081045 A1 with which the print carrier can be printed, glued and sealed. Sprayed into an irrelevant area of the print carrier.
Taking into account the transport and printing speed, the print carrier size and sections / folds as well as evaluation of the print job, an irrelevant information area is determined on the print carrier. This information area is recorded and determined in a spray-free position unit. Analogously, the relevant information area for the print positions is determined and recorded in a print control unit. An irrelevant information area is the fold area or an area which is cut away after the pressure or free-injection process. The free spatter result is initially visible.
In addition, the printing of a specified test pattern is envisaged, see paragraph 0064, which will subsequently be read. It is checked whether the actuated nozzles have printed.

Zweck der Erfindung ist eine Verbesserung der Druckqualität und eine Verlängerung der Lebensdauer der Druckeinrichtung sowie ein möglichst großer Briefdurchsatz.The purpose of the invention is an improvement in the print quality and an extension of the life of the printing device and the largest possible letter throughput.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren zum Freispritzen der Düsen eines Tintendruckkopfes in einer Frankier- und/oder Adressiermaschine zu schaffen, bei dem die Transportgeschwindigkeit der Druckträger unbeschränkt ist und das sowohl für waagerecht liegenden als auch für auf einer Kante stehenden Druckträgertransport geeignet ist.The invention has for its object to provide a method for free spraying of the nozzles of an ink jet print head in a franking and / or addressing machine, in which the transport speed of the print carrier is unlimited and which is suitable for horizontally positioned as well as standing on an edge print carrier transport ,

Erfindungsgemäß wird diese Aufgabe gemäß dem Hauptanspruch gelöst. Weitere vorteilhafte Merkmale der Erfindung sind den Unteransprüchen entnehmbar.According to the invention this object is achieved according to the main claim. Further advantageous features of the invention are the dependent claims.

Die Erfindung geht von dem Sachverhalt aus, dass es in Ländern mit großem Briefaufkommen inzwischen üblich ist, zur Vermeidung von Portoverlusten sowie aus Sicherheitsgründen Postsendungen - insbesondere Briefe - mit maschinenlesbaren codierten relevanten Druckbildern (Freistempelabdruck einschließlich Klischees) zu versehen. Das geschieht in Form von Balkencodes oder moderner in Form von zweidimensionalen Barcodes, siehe beispielsweise DE 20 2005 000 255 U1 . Die einzelnen auswertbaren Bildpunkte (pixel) eines Druckbildes bestehen dabei aus einer Vielzahl von Druckpunkten (dots).
Ein Druckpunkt entsteht durch einmalige Betätigung einer Düse. Bei einer Bildpunktgröße mit 0,5 mm Kantenlänge würden bei einer Druckdichte von 200 dpi (dots per inch) rund 600 Druckpunkte auf einen Bildpunkt kommen.
Erfindungsgemäß wird demzufolge vorgeschlagen, unter Beibehaltung der Druckposition des Tintendruckkopfes mindestens die Düsen, die nicht an der Erzeugung des jeweiligen Druckbildes beteiligt sind, auf den aktuellen Druckträger in einem für die Druckbildauswertung irrelevanten Modus freizuspritzen. Das bedeutet, mit den vorgenannten Düsen eine wesentlich kleinere Anzahl von Druckpunkten, als für einen Bildpunkt benötigt, auf den Druckträger aufzubringen. Die Druckpunkte können dabei sowohl in die sogenannten weißen als auch schwarzen Bildpunkte eingefügt als auch sonst wo angeordnet werden, ohne den Informationsinhalt zu verfälschen. Zur Ermittlung der freizuspritzenden Düsen wird der aktuelle Druckbildauftrag ausgewertet und dann entsprechend zu einem resultierenden Druckbildauftrag ergänzt.
Wenn nur die nicht oder wenig benutzten Düsen freigespritzt werden, wird optimal Tinte gespart. Durch die Beibehaltung der Druckposition wird Zeit eingespart und der Briefdurchlauf optimiert.The invention is based on the fact that it is now common in countries with large letters to provide postal items - in particular letters - with machine-readable coded relevant printed images (indicia imprint including clichés) to avoid lost postage and for security reasons. This is done in the form of bar codes or more modern in the form of two-dimensional bar codes, see for example DE 20 2005 000 255 U1 , The individual evaluable pixels (pixels) of a printed image consist of a plurality of printing dots.
A pressure point is created by a single operation of a nozzle. With a pixel size of 0.5 mm edge length, a print density of 200 dpi (dots per inch) would result in around 600 print dots per pixel.
Accordingly, it is proposed according to the invention that, while maintaining the printing position of the inkjet print head, at least the nozzles which are not involved in the production of the respective print image be sprayed onto the current print carrier in a mode irrelevant to the print image evaluation. This means, with the aforementioned nozzles, a much smaller number of pressure points than required for a pixel to apply to the print carrier. The pressure points can be inserted in both the so-called white and black pixels as well as elsewhere arranged, without distorting the information content. To determine the nozzles to be sprayed free, the current print image job is evaluated and then supplemented accordingly to a resulting print image job.
If only the unused or rarely used nozzles are sprayed free, the optimum amount of ink is saved. By maintaining the print position, time is saved and the letter throughput is optimized.

Die Erfindung wird nachstehend an Ausführungsbeispielen näher erläutert.The invention will be explained in more detail by exemplary embodiments.

Es zeigen:Show it:

  • Fig. 1 einen beispielhaften Freistempelabdruck mit Details,
    1. a) einen vollständigen Freistempelabdruck mit zweidimensionalem Barcode, Werbeklischee und anderen Zusatzleistungen, wie einem eindimensionalem Adreß-Balkencode,
    2. b) ein Detail des zweidimensionalen Barcodes von 1a,
    3. c) ein Detail von 1b,
     Fig. 1 an exemplary indicia imprint with details,
    1. a) a complete indicia impression with two-dimensional barcode, advertising cliche and other additional services, such as a one-dimensional address bar code,
    2. b) a detail of the two-dimensional barcode of Fig. 1a,
    3. c) a detail of 1b,
  • Fig. 2 eine Übersicht möglicher irrelevanter Druckmodi für die Freispritzdots,
    1. a) Verteilung der Freispritzdots über den Druckträger,
    2. b) Verteilung der Freispritzdots unter Berücksichtigung von Teilbereichen, betreffend nicht oder kaum benutzte Düsen,
    3. c) Verteilung der Freispritzdots in Balkenform für Teilbereiche nach dem zweidimensionalen Barcode durch gleichzeitiges Freispritzen nicht benutzter Düsen,
    4. d) Verteilung der Freispritzdots in Balkenform für Teilbereiche vor dem Freistempelabdruck durch gleichzeitiges Freispritzen nicht benutzter Düsen.
     Fig. 2 an overview of possible irrelevant print modes for the spray-free dots,
    1. a) distribution of the free-spray dots over the print carrier,
    2. b) distribution of spray-free spots, taking into account subregions, concerning nozzles that are not or hardly used,
    3. c) distribution of the spray bar spray dots for subsections after the two-dimensional bar code by simultaneously spraying unused nozzles,
    4. d) distribution of the spray gunshots for partial areas in front of the indicia impression by simultaneous free spraying of unused nozzles.

Zur Vereinfachung und zum leichteren Verständnis ist die Darstellung teilweise schematisiert ausgeführt.For simplicity and ease of understanding, the illustration is partially schematic.

Ein vollständiger Freistempelabdruck gemäß Fig.1a besteht in der zeitlichen Reihenfolge rechts beginnend aus dem traditionellen Frankierabdruck, dem Frankierabdruck im zweidimensionalen Barcode, einem Werbeklischee und anderen Zusatzleistungen, wie einem darunter angeordneten eindimensionalen Adreß-Balkencode.A complete indicia imprint according to 1a consists of the traditional franking imprint, the franking imprint in the two-dimensional barcode, an advertising cliché and other additional services, such as a one-dimensional address bar code arranged underneath.

In Fig.1b ist ein Teilbereich des Frankierabdruckes im zweidimensionalen Barcode dargestellt. Hier ist schon gut erkennbar, wie die Pixel p aus einer Vielzahl von Dots d zusammengesetzt sind.In 1b shows a partial area of the franking imprint is represented in the two-dimensional barcode. Here it is easy to see how the pixels p are composed of a large number of dots d.

In Fig. 1c ist der Bereich nach Fig. 1b so weit vergrößert dargestellt, daß einerseits die Dimensionen eines Pixels in x- und y-Koordinatenrichtung gut erkennbar sind und andererseits einzelne Dots d des Freispritzbildes erkennbar sind, die innerhalb der weißen Bildpunkte des relevanten Druckbildes Dr liegen. Hierbei wird deutlich, daß diese Dots bei einem auf die Pixelgröße ausgerichteten Auswertesystem zwangsläufig unberücksichtigt bleiben.In Fig. 1c is the area after Fig. 1b so far enlarged shown that on the one hand the dimensions of a pixel in the x and y coordinate direction are clearly visible and on the other hand individual dots d of the free-spray image can be seen, which are within the white pixels of the relevant printed image Dr. It becomes clear that these dots are inevitably disregarded in an evaluation system oriented to the pixel size.

In Fig. 2a ist der Fall dargestellt, bei dem die Freispritzdots - abweichend von der Realität vergrößert - über das relevante Druckbild Dr und den übrigen Druckträger B verteilt angeordnet sind.In Fig. 2a the case is shown in which the free-jet dots - deviating from the reality - are arranged distributed over the relevant print image Dr and the remaining print carrier B.

In Fig. 2b sind die Freispritzdots auf Regionen verteilt, in denen die Düsen zur Erzeugung des relevanten Druckbildes Dr kaum oder gar nicht betätigt werden. Das betrifft besonders den oberen und unteren Randbereich des maximalen Druckbereichs.In Fig. 2b the spray-free dots are distributed to regions in which the nozzles for generating the relevant printed image Dr are hardly or not actuated. This particularly applies to the upper and lower edge area of the maximum pressure range.

In Fig. 2c sind die Freispritzdots d in Teilbereichen nach dem zweidimensionalen Barcode so angeordnet, dass zwei senkrechte, miteinander fluchtende Drucklinien vorliegen. Die freizuspritzenden Düsen werden dabei alle gleichzeitig betätigt. In diesem Fall wird vorausgesetzt, daß alle für den Barcodebereich vorgesehenen Düsen betätigt werden. Diese Variante ist wirkungsgleich mit der nach Fig. 2b und demzufolge gleich vorteilhaft.In Fig. 2c For example, the free-floating dots d are arranged in subregions after the two-dimensional barcode in such a way that there are two perpendicular, aligned printing lines. The freizuspritzenden nozzles are all actuated simultaneously. In this case, it is assumed that all nozzles provided for the barcode area are operated. This variant has the same effect as the one after Fig. 2b and therefore equally advantageous.

In Fig. 2d sind die Freispritzdots d in Teilbereichen vor dem Freistempelabdruck in Balkenform angeordnet. Ansonsten die Verhältnisse analog zu denen in Fig. 2c. In beiden Fällen ist ein mehrfaches Freispritzen zulässig.In Fig. 2d the free-jet dots d are arranged in partial areas in front of the franking imprint in bar form. Otherwise the conditions analogous to those in Fig. 2c , In both cases, a multiple free spraying is allowed.

In Fig. 3 ist ein Blockschaltbild der Druckeransteuerung dargestellt. Es enthält einen Speicher 1 für das das relevante Druckbild Dr. Das relevante Druckbild Dr enthält Informationen betreffend Porto, Aufgabedatum, Frankiermaschine, Werbeklischee sowie Briefzusatzleistungen, wie Eilpost oder Infopost. Die Informationen dafür werden über vorgelagerte Einrichtungen, wie Briefwaage und Dimensionsabtastorgane sowie Absenderwünsche ermittelt.
Der Speicher 1 ist mit einem Mikroprozessor 5 bidirektional verbunden. An den Mikroprozessor 5 ist außerdem die Frankierdateneingabe 3 unidirektional kommend angeschlossen. Die von der Frankierdateneingabe 3 zugeführten Daten werden im Mikroprozessor 5 zum aktuellen Druckbildauftrag weiterverarbeitet und in dem Speicher 1 zwischengespeichert. Im Mikroprozessor 5 wird aus dem aktuellen relevantem Druckbildauftrag ein ergänzender irrelevanter Druckbildauftrag abgeleitet.In Fig. 3 a block diagram of the printer driver is shown. It contains a memory 1 for the relevant printed image. The relevant printed image Dr contains information relating to postage, date of posting, postage meter, advertising cliché and supplementary letter services, such as express mail or Infopost. The information for this is determined via upstream facilities, such as the letter scale and dimensional scanner as well as sender requests.
The memory 1 is connected to a microprocessor 5 bidirectionally. To the microprocessor 5 also the franking data input 3 is connected unidirectionally coming. The data supplied by the franking data input 3 are processed further in the microprocessor 5 for the current print image job and temporarily stored in the memory 1. In the microprocessor 5, a supplementary irrelevant print image job is derived from the current relevant print image job.

An den Mikroprozessor 5 ist weiterhin ein Speicher 4 bidirektional angeschlossen, in dem der resultierende Druckbildauftrag für das relevante und irrelevante Druckbild Dr, Db zwischengespeichert wird.
Der Mikroprozessor 5 ist unidirektional gehend mit einer Druckeinrichtung 6 verbunden, die von ersterem die Ansteuerungsdaten As für das aktuelle resultierende Druckbild D erhält und dieses ausdruckt.A memory 4 is also bidirectionally connected to the microprocessor 5, in which the resulting print image job for the relevant and irrelevant print image Dr, Db is temporarily stored.
The microprocessor 5 is unidirectionally connected to a printing device 6, which receives from the former the drive data As for the current resulting print image D and prints it out.

In Fig. 4 ist das zugehörige Flussdiagramm zum Blockschaltbild nach Fig. 3 dargestellt. Mit dem Einlauf eines Druckträgers B in die Frankiermaschine passiert dessen Vorderkante einen Sensor und löst damit den Start S für den Druckauftrag Da aus. Mittels der portorelevanten Informationen und der Informationen zum gewünschten Werbeklischee von der Frankierdateneingabe 3 erfolgt die Frankierdruckberechnung Drb und anschließend die Frankierdruckaufbereitung Drv. Die damit gewonnenen Daten für das relevante Druckbild Dr werden im Speicher 1 zwischengespeichert. Bei der Frankierdruckaufbereitung Drv fallen zugleich die Informationen an, welche Düsen in welchem Umfang aktiviert werden. Diese Informationen werden mit im Mikroprozessor eingegebenen Kriterien K1 für nicht benutzte Düsen und K2 für kaum benutzte Düsen verglichen und daraus zunächst ein irrelevantes Druckbild Dbv vorbereitet. Anschließend wird dazu ein irrelevantes Druckbild Dbb berechnet und als aktuelles irrelevantes Druckbild Db gespeichert. Die Daten für das relevante Druckbild Dr und das irrelevante Druckbild Db werden zu einem Druckbild Dv zusammengefügt. Die so vereinigten Daten werden als resultierendes Druckbild D im Speicher 4 zwischengespeichert. Zu gegebener Zeit werden diese Daten als Ansteuerdaten As an die Druckeinrichtung 6 übermittelt. Mit Ausführung aller Druckbefehle pro Druckträger B ist der Druckvorgang beendet.
Selbstverständlich kann auf ein Freispritzen verzichtet werden, wenn alle Düsen ausreichend oft pro Druckträger zum Einsatz kommen. Dann dienen nur die Daten zum relevanten Druckbild Dr als Ansteuerdaten für die Druckeinrichtung.In Fig. 4 is the associated flow chart for the block diagram after Fig. 3 shown. With the entry of a print carrier B in the postage meter whose leading edge passes a sensor and thus triggers the start S for the print job Da from. By means of the information relevant to the postage and the information on the desired advertising cliché from the franking data input 3, the franking pressure calculation Drb and then the franking printing preparation Drv. The data thus obtained for the relevant printed image Dr are temporarily stored in the memory 1. When Frankierdruckaufbereitung Drv at the same time fall to the information on which nozzles are activated to what extent. This information is compared with unused nozzles K1 and K2 nozzles used by the microprocessor and then prepares an irrelevant printed image Dbv first. Subsequently, an irrelevant print image Dbb is calculated and stored as the current irrelevant print image Db. The data for the relevant print image Dr and the irrelevant print image Db are combined to form a print image Dv. The data thus combined are buffered as the resulting print image D in the memory 4. At the appropriate time, these data are transmitted to the printing device 6 as drive data As. With execution of all print commands per print carrier B the printing process is finished.
Of course, can be dispensed with a free spraying, if all nozzles are enough often per print carrier used. Then, only the data for the relevant print image Dr serve as drive data for the printing device.

Verwendete BezugszeichenUsed reference signs

11
Speicher für relevantes Druckbild DrMemory for relevant print image Dr
33
FrankierdateneingabeFrankierdateneingabe
44
Speicher für GesamtdruckbildMemory for total print image
55
Mikroprozessormicroprocessor
66
Druckeinrichtungprint Setup
Asace
Ansteuerungsdaten für Druckeinrichtung 6Control data for printing device 6
BB
Druckträger, BriefPrint carrier, letter
dd
dotdot
DD
resultierendes Druckbildresulting print image
DaThere
DruckauftragkontrollePrint job control
Dbdb
irrelevantes Druckbildirrelevant print image
Dbbdbb
berechnetes irrelevantes Druckbildcalculated irrelevant printed image
DbvDbv
vorbereitetes irrelevantes Druckbildprepared irrelevant printed image
DrDr
relevantes Druckbild (Frankierabdruck)relevant print image (franking imprint)
DrvDrv
FrankierdruckaufbereitungFrankierdruckaufbereitung
Dvdv
vereinigte Daten zu Dr und Dbcombined data on Dr and Db
Fdfd
Frankierdatenfranking
jj
Alternativentscheidung jaAlternative decision yes
K1K1
Kriterium für nicht benutzte DüsenCriterion for unused nozzles
K2K2
Kriterium für kaum benutzte DüsenCriterion for barely used nozzles
nn
Alternativentscheidung neinAlternative decision no
pp
pixelpixel
SS
Startbegin

Claims (5)

  1. A method for spraying free the nozzles of an ink print head, especially in a franking and/or addressing machine in which the print media are carried along a stationarily arranged ink print head, wherein, maintaining the print position of the print head, at least the nozzles not involved in the generation of the respective relevant printed image (Dr) are sprayed free on the current print medium (B) in a mode that is irrelevant to the analysis of the printed image,
    characterized in
    that there is derived from the relevant printed image (Dr) an irrelevant printed image (Db) of the nozzles to be sprayed free that is merged with the relevant printed image (Dr) into a resulting printed image (D) and printed out.
  2. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in
    that the nozzles not involved in the generation of the respective relevant printed image (Dr) are operated distributed over the current print medium (B) in such a manner that there is generated a non-analyzable printed pattern in a raster scale, wherein also a superimposition of the relevant printed image (Dr) in both, the white and black pixels is possible.
  3. A method according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in
    that, when spraying free, size and number of dots, respectively, per pixel are substantially smaller than those for an analyzable pixel.
  4. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in
    that the non-used nozzles are operated at least once.
  5. A method according to Claim 1, characterized in
    that the non-used nozzles are sprayed free just as often as the most frequently used nozzles.
EP07007958A 2006-05-19 2007-04-19 Method for clearing the jet of an ink printhead Not-in-force EP1857282B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102006023540A DE102006023540A1 (en) 2006-05-19 2006-05-19 Process for the free spraying of the nozzles of an inkjet print head

Publications (2)

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EP1857282A1 EP1857282A1 (en) 2007-11-21
EP1857282B1 true EP1857282B1 (en) 2009-09-09

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EP (1) EP1857282B1 (en)
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US6273884B1 (en) 1997-05-15 2001-08-14 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for dermatology treatment
US6517532B1 (en) 1997-05-15 2003-02-11 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Light energy delivery head
US7135033B2 (en) 2002-05-23 2006-11-14 Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. Phototreatment device for use with coolants and topical substances
CN1329008C (en) 2002-06-19 2007-08-01 帕洛玛医疗技术公司 Method and apparatus for treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous conditions
BRPI0616167A2 (en) 2005-09-15 2011-06-07 Palomar Medical Tech Inc optical skin characterization device
US8162468B2 (en) * 2008-12-15 2012-04-24 Pitney Bowes Inc. System and method for registering color ink jet printing in a mailing machine
US8449108B2 (en) * 2008-12-30 2013-05-28 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for providing evidence of printing in event of print head failure
US8851594B2 (en) 2010-10-17 2014-10-07 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Fill reduction for printing

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US5245362A (en) * 1990-02-13 1993-09-14 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ink jet recording apparatus with discharge recovery apparatus having varying driving force
US6447095B1 (en) * 1994-05-19 2002-09-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Discharge recovery method for ink jet apparatus using waterproof ink and ink jet apparatus employing the method
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FR2723339B1 (en) * 1994-08-08 1996-10-31 Neopost Ind POSTAGE MACHINE COMPRISING AN INK JET PRINTHEAD
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DE102006023540A1 (en) 2007-11-22
US7431419B2 (en) 2008-10-07
EP1857282A1 (en) 2007-11-21
DE502007001469D1 (en) 2009-10-22
US20070268323A1 (en) 2007-11-22
ATE442258T1 (en) 2009-09-15

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