Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090009573 | INK-JET PRINTER USING PHASE-CHANGE INK PRINTING ON A CONTINUOUS WEB - A printing apparatus includes a printing station, including at least one printhead for applying phase-change ink to the substrate, and a backing member disposed on an opposite side of the substrate substantially opposite the printhead, the backing member causing the substrate to reach a predetermined ink-receiving temperature. | 01-08-2009 |
20090231375 | System And Method For Compensating For Weak, Intermittent, Or Missing Inkjets In A Printhead Assembly - A system enables surrounding inkjets to be used to compensate for missing, intermittent, or weak inkjets without requiring additional passes of the image substrate or slowing the printing process. The system includes a printhead firing signal generator configured to generate a plurality of inkjet firing signals with reference to a set of predetermined firing signal parameters, and a firing signal adjustment circuit configured to modify at least one predetermined firing signal parameter to increase a first mass of liquid ink ejected by an inkjet proximate a defective inkjet in response to a signal identifying the defective inkjet. | 09-17-2009 |
20090262370 | System And Method For Distributing Image Values Of A Color Separation - A method processes image data in a color separation to attenuate printing defects arising from misalignment of serially arranged printheads that eject ink for the color separation. The method includes processing image values of the color separation with a first rendering process that corresponds to one printhead in a plurality of serially arranged printheads for printing the color separation, processing the image values of the color separation with a second rendering process that differs from the first rendering process for at least one other printhead in the plurality of serially arranged printheads for printing the color separation, generating firing signals for the one printhead from the rendered image values generated by the first rendering process, and generating firing signals for the at least one other printhead from the rendered image values generated by the second rendering process. | 10-22-2009 |
20100091347 | System And Method For Rendering Image Values To Be Printed In A Single Pass By Serially Arranged Printheads - A method processes image data for a color separation to reduce visible perception of misalignment of printheads in a plurality of serially arranged printheads. The method includes detecting cross-process edges in image values for objects in a color separation to be printed by a plurality of serially arranged printheads, and disproportionately mapping image values corresponding to the object in the color separation to one of the printheads in the plurality of serially arranged printheads. | 04-15-2010 |
20100123752 | Printhead Registration Correction System and Method for Use with Direct Marking Continuous Web Printers - A registration system for use with an imaging device includes sensors for detecting a web speed and a web tension of a moving web and a control system configured to generate a first timing offset for at least one marking station based on the detected web speed and web tension. An image sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a marking material applied to the moving web by at least one of the marking stations. The control system is configured to generate a second timing offset for the at least one marking station based on the position of the marking material indicated by the third signal, and to adjust an actuation time for the at least one marking station using the first timing offset and the second timing offset. | 05-20-2010 |
20110012958 | Staggered Head Stitch Shifts in a Continuous Feed Direct Marking Printer - An imaging device includes an image receiving surface configured to move in a process direction in the imaging device. A plurality of printhead arrays are arranged to deposit marking material onto the image receiving surface. Each printhead array includes a plurality of printheads arrayed in a cross-process direction across the image receiving surface. Each printhead array includes at least one stitch line corresponding to a position along an axis parallel to the cross-process direction where an end of one printhead in the printhead array aligns with an end of another printhead in the printhead array. The at least one stitch line of each printhead array is offset a predetermined distance in the cross-process direction from the at least one stitch line of each of the other printhead arrays. | 01-20-2011 |
20110061552 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EQUALIZING MULTIPLE MOVING WEB VELOCITY MEASUREMENTS IN A DOUBLE REFLEX PRINTING REGISTRATION SYSTEM - A method enables linear web velocities generated with reference to angular velocity signals generated by encoders at different rollers in a double reflex printing registration system to be equalized. The method includes identifying a low frequency component of a first linear velocity of a moving web, identifying a high frequency component of a second linear velocity of the moving web, and computing a linear velocity for the moving web at a roller in a print zone with reference to the identified high frequency component of the second linear velocity and the identified low frequency component of the first linear velocity. | 03-17-2011 |
20110063355 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPENSATING RUNOUT ERRORS IN A MOVING WEB PRINTING SYSTEM - A method compensates for runout errors in a web printing system. The method includes identifying runout error at a first roller driving a web of printable media, generating a runout compensation value corresponding to the identified runout error, identifying a velocity of the moving web with reference to encoder output corresponding to an angular velocity of the first roller and the generated runout compensation value, and delivering a firing signal to a print head proximate the first roller to energize the inkjet nozzles in the print head and eject ink onto the web at a position corresponding to the computed web velocity. | 03-17-2011 |
20110063357 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPENSATING FOR REGISTRATION ERRORS ARISING FROM HEATED ROLLERS IN A MOVING WEB PRINTING SYSTEM - A method compensates for thermal expansion of rollers in a web print zone. The method includes receiving an angular velocity signal from a first encoder for a roller in a print zone of a moving web printing system, receiving a signal from a first temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature of the roller, modifying a first diameter for the first roller with a first predetermined distance in response to the temperature of the first roller being different than a first predetermined temperature, identifying a velocity of a moving web in the print zone of the moving web printing system with reference to the modified first diameter, and delivering a firing signal to a first printhead proximate the first roller to energize the inkjet nozzles in the first printhead and eject ink onto the web at a position corresponding to the identified moving web velocity. | 03-17-2011 |
20110102525 | Non-Contact Heating Of Solid Ink Prints After Ink Fixing - An imaging device includes a media transport system configured to transport print media along a media path. A first print station is positioned along the media path that is configured to apply ink to a first side of the media. A first fixing assembly is positioned along the media path downstream from the first print station. A second print station is positioned along the media path downstream from the first fixing assembly that is configured to apply ink to a second side of the media. A second fixing assembly is positioned along the media path downstream from the second print station. A heater is positioned along the media path downstream from the second fixing assembly that is configured to heat the media to a gloss reducing temperature. | 05-05-2011 |
20110109683 | Temperature Leveling Roller and Pressure Nip Assembly - An imaging device includes a substantially continuous web of media, and a web transport system configured to transport the continuous web along a web path. A print station is positioned along the web path and is configured to apply ink to the continuous web. A temperature leveling ink spreader is disposed along the web path downstream from the print station. The temperature leveling ink spreader includes a leveler roller including a heater configured to generate thermal energy to heat the leveler roller to a spreading temperature. The leveler roller is positioned to be partially wrapped by the continuous web to generate a predetermined dwell time between the continuous web and the leveler roller as the continuous web is being transported to equalize the temperatures of the web and ink on the web to within a predetermined range about the spreading temperature. The temperature leveling ink spreader includes a pressure roller positioned adjacent the leveler roller to form a spreading nip therebetween through which the continuous web is fed after the predetermined dwell time. The spreading nip is configured to apply a predetermined pressure to the continuous web and the ink thereon. | 05-12-2011 |
20110141171 | System and Method for Compensating for Small Ink Drop Size in an Indirect Printing System - A method improves transfer efficiency of ink images on an image receiving member that were formed with small ink drops. The method includes identifying image data that correspond to ink drops that have a mass less than a predetermined threshold and that fail to comingle with another ink drop ejected with reference to the image data, modifying the identified image data to generate ink drops that comingle with at least one other ink drop ejected with reference to the image data, generating firing signals for inkjet ejectors in a print head with reference to the image data and modified image data, and ejecting in response to the firing signals a plurality of ink drops from the inkjet ejectors for each identified image data to enable a coalesced ink drop to form on an image receiving surface that has a mass that is greater than the predetermined threshold. | 06-16-2011 |
20110227973 | Direct Marking Printer Having A User Configurable Print Resolution - A modular printing device has been developed that may be configured with different numbers of ink colors and ink types and with a different cross-process direction print resolution for each ink color and ink type. The modular printing device configurable to print with multiple combinations of ink colors and ink types at different print resolutions includes a plurality of printhead arrays, each printhead array being configured to eject ink onto an image receiving surface at a first print resolution in a cross-process direction, a plurality of ink supplies, each ink supply being configured to store ink and to provide ink to one printhead array in the plurality of printhead arrays, and a controller configured to operate the plurality of printhead arrays at one of at least two combinations of ink colors and ink types, each combination identifying an ink color or an ink type to be ejected by each printhead array and the controller operating the printhead arrays ejecting a same ink color or a same ink type at a print resolution in the cross-process direction corresponding to the number of printhead arrays ejecting the same ink color or the same ink type. | 09-22-2011 |
20110252992 | Reflex Printing With Temperature Feedback Control - A method for operating a web printing system enables web and roller changes arising from temperature changes to be identified and used to adjust operation of the reflex registration system. The method includes identifying a temperature change for at least one roller in a web printing system, identifying a temperature change for a web moving through the web printing system at one or more locations in the web printing system, modifying web velocity computations for a reflex registration system with reference to the identified temperature change for the at least one roller and the identified temperature change for the web, and operating printheads to eject ink onto the web at positions identified with reference to the modified web velocity computations. | 10-20-2011 |
20110273502 | Method And System To Compensate For Process Direction Misalignment Of Printheads In A Continuous Web Inkjet Printer - A method of operating a printer enables printheads mounted on print bars to be operated to compensate for misalignment of printheads in the process direction. The method includes identifying a position in the process direction for each printhead in a plurality of printheads, selecting one of the identified printhead positions as a reference printhead position, identifying a printhead timing parameter for each printhead mounted to at least one print bar, generating a firing signal for the printheads mounted to the at least one print bar, and adjusting delivery of the firing signal by the identified printhead timing parameter for each corresponding printhead mounted to the at least one print bar to coordinate actuation of inkjet ejectors in the printheads mounted to the at least one print bar and compensate for misalignment of the printheads in the process direction. | 11-10-2011 |
20110279505 | Method For Identifying And Verifying Dash Structures As Candidates For Test Patterns And Replacement Patterns In An Inkjet Printer - A method compensates for changes in drop velocity of drops emitted by inkjets in a printhead of an ink jet imaging device. The method includes operating inkjet ejectors in a plurality of printheads to eject ink in a pattern of structured dashes on an image receiving member, the structured dashes corresponding to a predetermined image data pattern, generating image data corresponding to the pattern of structured dashes on the image receiving member, identifying a process direction correction parameter for each ejector in the plurality of printheads with reference to the generated image data, modifying image data to be printed by the plurality of printheads with reference to the process direction correction parameter identified for at least one of the ejectors, and operating the plurality of printheads with reference to the modified image data. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279513 | Method And System For Printhead Alignment To Compensate For Dimensional Changes In A Media Web In An Inkjet Printer - A method enables a controller to align printheads in a printer. The method includes identifying a first cross-process position for each printhead in a plurality of printheads in a printer with reference to image data of a test pattern printed by the plurality of printheads on a media substrate, identifying a second cross-process position for each printhead in the plurality of printheads, calculating a printhead cross-process position error between the identified first cross-process position and the identified second cross-process position for each printhead, comparing a maximum printhead cross-process position error to a predetermined threshold, and operating a plurality of actuators with reference to the calculated printhead cross-process position errors to reposition the printheads in the plurality of printheads in response to the maximum printhead cross-process position error being equal to or less than the predetermined threshold. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279613 | Protective Device For Inkjet Printheads - An inkjet printhead is configured to reduce the likelihood of media coming into contact with a printhead face. The inkjet printhead includes a housing, an aperture plate having a plurality of apertures in an aperture area through which inkjet ejectors eject ink, and a pair of members aligned with a direction of media movement and extending along a length of the aperture area, the pair of members being configured to lift media away from the plurality of apertures in the aperture area. | 11-17-2011 |
20120105529 | Method and System For Improved Ink Jet or Printhead Replacement - A system and method is provided for compensating for a faulty ink jet in a target printhead in an ink jet imaging system having a plurality of printheads arranged to span a maximum printing width that includes defining a typical printing width less than the maximum printing width and swapping the target printhead with a printhead situated in the margin outside the typical printing width. The system and method permits swapping the target printhead with a margin printhead that has a faulty ink jet provided that the location of the faulty ink jet in the margin printhead does not coincide or align with a faulty ink jet in printheads adjacent the target printhead. | 05-03-2012 |
20120113176 | Method And System For Reflex Printing To Compensate For Registration Errors In A Continuous Web Inkjet Printer - A method of operating a printer enables compensation parameters to be generated and stored in association with system conditions detected at the time of the compensation parameter generation. Upon detection of corresponding system conditions at a later time, the printer is able to use the previously generated and stored compensation parameters to adjust the timing of printhead ejections to improve the registration in ink images formed by the system. | 05-10-2012 |
20120206530 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRINTHEAD ALIGNMENT TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE BANDING ARTIFACTS FOR INTERLACED PRINTHEADS - A method for aligning printheads, some of which are arranged in an overlapped configuration, in a printer has been developed. The method includes identifying a stitch error for each color station in a plurality of color stations in the printer. The stitch error is identified with reference to shrinkage of a print medium as the print medium passes the plurality of color stations. A portion of the stitch error is used to move at least one printhead in the color station corresponding to the stitch error to compensate for a banding issue caused by the overlapped printhead configuration. All or part of the stitch error may also be applied to other printheads in the color station to compensate for possible color to color registration issues. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206531 | TEST PATTERN LESS PERCEPTIBLE TO HUMAN OBSERVATION AND METHOD OF ANALYSIS OF IMAGE DATA CORRESPONDING TO THE TEST PATTERN IN AN INKJET PRINTER - A method generates a test pattern on an image receiving member that is less perceptible to human observation, but still detectable by an imaging device within a printer. A method implemented in the printer analyzes image data of the dashes in the test pattern that were randomly distributed in the process direction within an area of the image receiving member to identify positions for printheads in the printer and detect missing inkjets in the printheads. | 08-16-2012 |
20120268514 | Reflex Printing With Temperature Feedback Control - A method for operating a web printing system enables web and roller changes arising from temperature changes to be identified and used to adjust operation of the reflex registration system. The method includes identifying a temperature change for at least one roller in a web printing system, identifying a temperature change for a web moving through the web printing system at one or more locations in the web printing system, modifying web velocity computations for a reflex registration system with reference to the identified temperature change for the at least one roller and the identified temperature change for the web, and operating printheads to eject ink onto the web at positions identified with reference to the modified web velocity computations. | 10-25-2012 |
20120313989 | Method And System For Operating A Printhead To Compensate For Failed Inkjets - An inkjet printer has a printhead in which all of the inkjets are used for printing, but at a less than maximum available ejection output. When a failed inkjet is identified, the ejection throughput is increased for inkjets that print pixels in an at least two pixel neighborhood about a missing pixel, so the pixels to be printed by the failed inkjet are printed by inkjets that print pixels in the two pixel wide neighborhood. | 12-13-2012 |
20130010022 | Direct Marking Printer Having A User Configurable Print Resolution - A printing device can be configured with different numbers of ink colors and ink types to print with a different cross-process direction print resolution for each ink color and ink type. The printing device includes a plurality of printhead arrays with each printhead array being configured to eject ink onto an image receiving surface at a first print resolution in a cross-process direction. Each ink supply in a plurality of ink supplies is configured to provide ink to one printhead array in the plurality of printhead arrays, and a controller is configured to operate the printhead arrays at one of at least two combinations of ink colors and ink types. The controller operates the printhead arrays ejecting a same ink color or a same ink type at a second print resolution in the cross-process direction that is different than the first print resolution. | 01-10-2013 |
20130021398 | Method and System for Aligning Printheads that Eject Clear Ink in an Inkjet Printer - A method enables an operator to detect misalignment of printheads that eject clear ink in an inkjet printer. The method prints a first test pattern with a first color of ink and then prints a second test pattern of clear ink on top of the first test pattern. The ink of the first and the second test patterns is then spread to enable the clear ink to be dispersed in interstitial spaces in the ink of the first color. An operator is then able to detect the spatial relationship of predetermined marks in the second test pattern to predetermined marks in the first test pattern. The predetermined marks of the first and the second test patterns are arranged to enable an operator to detect a misalignment distance and the inkjet printer uses the misalignment distance entered by the operator to adjust the alignment of the printheads that eject clear ink. | 01-24-2013 |
20130113855 | Method and System for Adjusting Printhead Voltage Parameters in an Inkjet Printer - A method of operating a printer enables the mass of the ink drops ejected by the printheads in the printer to maintained in an optimal range without measuring the drop mass being ejected by the inkjets in the printheads. After calibration of the printheads, the printheads are operated with electrical signals having different peak-to-peak voltages. The number of inoperable inkjets for each printhead is determined from image data of the ejected ink on the image receiving member and the number of inoperable inkjets for each printhead is compared to a predetermined threshold. The peak-to-peak voltage for the electrical signals used to operate a printhead is adjusted with reference to the number of inoperable inkjets and the predetermined threshold. | 05-09-2013 |
20130155137 | Method and System for Split Head Drop Size Printing - A method for operating an inkjet printer to form images that include both high density and low density segments has been developed. The method includes operating one printhead to eject ink drops with a large size to form high density segments of the image, and operating a second printhead to eject ink drops with a small size to form low density segments of the image. The large ink drops provide high coverage in the high density segments, and the small ink drops provide improved image quality in the low density segments of the image. | 06-20-2013 |
20130201233 | System And Method For Compensating For Drift In Multiple Printheads In An Inkjet Printer - A method for calibrating in situ a plurality of printheads in an imaging device has been developed. Firing signals operate a plurality of printheads to form ink test patterns on an image receiving member. Reflectance measurements of light reflected from the test patterns and optical density measurements for a portion of the patterns formed by only one printhead in the plurality of printheads are used to adjust the firing signals and enable the printheads to print within a predetermined range about an average reflectance value and a predetermined optical density. | 08-08-2013 |
20140015882 | System and Method for Sub-Pixel Ink Drop Adjustment for Process Direction Registration - A method of operating an inkjet printer reduces ink drop placement errors in a process direction. The method includes generating firing signals for inkjets in a printhead at a first frequency and initiating the generation of the firing signals to a first plurality of inkjets in the printhead at a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. | 01-16-2014 |
20140139579 | SPARSE TEST PATTERNS IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF INKJET AND PRINTHEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PRINTER - A method for operating an inkjet printer to identify inoperable inkjets includes ejecting ink drops of a first color onto an image receiving surface to impose a control pattern on a document zone in addition to an ink image generated in the document zone. A density of the control pattern in the document zone changes at a rate that is at or less than a predetermined threshold. The method includes generating scanned image data of a portion of the control pattern on the image receiving surface and identifying a performance parameter corresponding to inkjets and printheads in the printer. | 05-22-2014 |
20140139587 | Printhead Having Apertures For Application Of A Surface Treatment Fluid - A printhead enables surface treatment fluid to be applied to the face of the printhead through at least one aperture located in the printhead faceplate. The printhead receives pressurized surface treatment fluid, which flows through a reservoir in the printhead, through at least one channel in the jet stack, and out the at least one aperture onto the surface of the faceplate. The surface treatment fluid is spread across ink apertures in the faceplate to disable ink from drooling from the ink apertures. | 05-22-2014 |
20140168304 | System And Method For Imaging And Evaluating Coating On An Imaging Surface In An Aqueous Inkjet Printer - An inkjet printer is configured to apply a coating material to an imaging surface before an ink image is formed on the surface. At least one optical sensor generates image data of the coating on the imaging surface and identifies a thickness of the coating material. Components of the coating material applicator can be adjusted to keep the thickness of the coating material within a predetermined range. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168312 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGING AND EVALUATING PRINTING PARAMETERS IN AN AQUEOUS INKJET PRINTER - An aqueous inkjet printer is configured to evaluate and adjust multiple components within the printer with reference to image data of the surface of a rotating member obtained at different times during a single print cycle. The print cycle can be performed in a multiple pass manner to enable a single optical sensor to be used for generation of the image data. Alternatively, the print cycle can be performed in a single revolution of the rotating member and multiple optical sensors positioned about the rotating member to generate the image data. | 06-19-2014 |
20140198146 | System And Method For Process Direction Registration Of Inkjets In A Printer Operating With A High Speed Image Receiving Surface - A method for process direction registration in an inkjet printer includes ejecting ink drops from a first inkjet at less than a maximum operating rate onto an image receiving surface moving in a process direction. The method includes generating image data samples of the image receiving surface including the ink drops. The method further includes identifying a center of the ink drops in the process direction with reference to the image data samples and storing a time offset value in a memory to correct an identified process direction offset between the identified center of the ink drops and another identified center of ink drops that are ejected by another inkjet. | 07-17-2014 |
20150017271 | Digital Manufacturing System For Printing Three-Dimensional Objects On A Rotating Surface - A printer forms a three-dimensional object on a rotating substrate. The printer includes a first driver to rotate the substrate past at least one printhead at a predetermined velocity and a controller to operate the printhead to eject material onto the substrate to form the object. A second driver is operated to move the position of the printhead perpendicular to the substrate to maintain a predetermined gap between the printhead and the layer of material most distant from the substrate. The second driver is further operable to move the position of the printhead parallel to the substrate to adjust a resolution of the ejected material. The controller interpolates an alternating signal generated from a position encoder to adjust the operation of the printhead based on the rotational position and velocity of the substrate. | 01-15-2015 |
20150017272 | Digital Manufacturing System For Printing Three-Dimensional Objects On A Rotating Core - A printer forms a three-dimensional object on a rotating substrate. The printer includes a frame that supports a cylindrical member and at least one printhead such that the first printhead is positioned to eject material onto an outer surface of the cylindrical member. The frame is movable between a first position that rotatably supports the cylindrical member and a second position that enables transfer of the cylindrical member to and from the frame. A controller operates the printhead to eject material onto the rotating cylindrical member to form the object. The controller interpolates a periodic signal generated from a position encoder to adjust the operation of the printhead based on the rotational position and velocity of the cylindrical member. The controller operates a driver to move the frame to the second position to enable removal of the cylindrical member from the printer. | 01-15-2015 |