摘要:
Inkjet printing of barcodes is enhanced by several methods. In a printhead having two staggered columns of nozzles, using only the even (or odd) column enhances resolution of a vertical barcode element. Filling interior portions of the barcode element with the odd (or even) column improves barcode appearance. Barcode swelling, due to ink migration after application, is reduced by use of a depletion matrix to lessen the quantity of ink applied. Application of the depletion matrix to the edges of the barcode elements resists swelling where resolution is most required. Where a printing mask is applied to the edges of the barcode elements, the edges may be printed only by one column of printhead nozzles, or only during one direction of printhead movement, or both. Alternately, removal of one or more pixels along the edge of a barcode element allows each barcode element to swell to the desired size.
摘要:
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method of aligning plural staggered pens in a printer with a first pen and a second pen of the plural pens defining a macro-pen, the first and second pens being staggered, the method includes aligning the first and second pens of the macro-pen and aligning a third pen with the macro-pen.
摘要:
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method of aligning multiple staggered pens in a printer includes printing a series of test block patterns, the test block patterns containing a plurality of composite references printed with a set of pens from at least two rows of a pen arrangement of the printer and a plurality of alignment blocks. The method further includes measuring relative distances between the plurality of composite references and the plurality of alignment blocks to determine a per-pen misalignment and modifying pen operation to compensate for the per pen misalignment.
摘要:
A method performed by an inkjet printing system is provided. The method comprises detecting an amount of use of a printhead and providing a request to service the printhead to a user in response to detecting the amount of use.
摘要:
A maintenance apparatus for a printhead, the apparatus having a rotatable shaft; a porous material about the shaft; and a mechanism for rotating the shaft so that the porous material rotates against the printhead, the porous material being configured to absorb fluid from the printhead during the rotation.
摘要:
A method of maintaining a printhead, the method having, when printing with the printhead, translating a modular sled relative to the printhead so as to align a media platen module supported by the sled with the printhead; after printing with the printing, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a wiper module supported by the sled with the printhead and operating a wiper roller of the wiper module so as to wipe a printing face of the printhead; and after the wiping and prior to commencement of printing with the printhead, translating the sled relative to the printhead so as to align a capper module supported by the sled with the printhead so as to cap the printing face of the printhead.
摘要:
A service station for a print system includes a dedicated controller and a network interface configured to couple the service station to a central controller of the print system and to other components of the print system over a network. The dedicated controller is configured to allow the service station to perform a task in response to receiving a command indicative of the task over the network from the central controller of the print system without the central controller knowing the details of the task.
摘要:
A fast and economical thermal inkjet printer prints on elongate print media, such as on a strip of paper from a roll, by moving a fluid jet print cartridge a determined dimension longitudinally of the length dimension of the paper strip while printing. In order to print a document that is wider than the width the print cartridge can print in a single scan of the paper, the cartridge is dithered among selected lateral positions within the width of the paper strip, and successively is scanned lengthwise of the paper strip to print in each successive longitudinal printing “swath.” A capstan of the printer advances the paper strip in steps of unit dimension along the length of the paper strip, which unit dimension may be substantially equal to the determined dimension of print cartridge movement while printing, so that documents having a length greater than the determined dimension can be printed in successive parts each of a length equal to this unit dimension. The capstan can also selectively advance the paper strip by a dimension that is less than the unit dimension so that documents printed on the printer may have lengths other than multiples of the determined dimension, thus saving on paper use.
摘要:
A replaceable inkjet printhead cleaner service station system has separate replaceable cleaning units for maintaining each printhead in an inkjet printing mechanism. Each cleaning unit has a printhead wiper, a printhead snout wiper, a capping system, a spittoon, and an ink solvent application system. A set of non-replaceable wiper scrapers are supported by the service station frame. When printing with interchangeable printheads that dispense mutually incompatible inks the cleaning units are exchanged when installing a printhead with an ink which is incompatible with the ink dispensed by a previous printhead to avoid cross-contamination if the inks at the wipers and caps. To prevent cross-contamination at the permanent scrapers, the scraper for each pen is divided into two separate regions each dedicated to cleaning only one wiper associated with one type of ink. A method is provided for cleaning an inkjet printhead, along with a printing mechanism employing such a system.