Use of a densitometer for adaptive control of printhead-to-media distance in ink jet printers
US5414453A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 9, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J25/3082
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In order to optimize print quality, it is desirable to minimize the distance between a inkjet printhead and the media that is being printed on. Color inkjet printers commonly employ a plurality of print cartridges, usually either two or four, mounted in the printer carriage to produce a full spectrum of colors. In a multiple printhead printer, it is advantageous if the black print cartridge is closer to the print media when printing text than is the color cartridge when printing color graphics. Accordingly, a pen pen carriage with adjustable printhead-to-media spacing is disclosed. A controller tells the printer to decrease the printhead-to-media spacing when text printing is being performed and to increase the printhead-to-media spacing to the appropriate printhead-to-media distance when printing color graphics or large black area fills based on the density of ink being deposited. Thus, the controller constantly monitors what the pens will be doing to determine when the pens need to be moved closer to, or farther from, the paper. The apparatus and method enables the black printhead in a multiple cartridge color inkjet printer to be as close to the media as possible so that black t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.