Patent · US Expired

Printhead having multiple print lines, and method and apparatus for using same

US5675370A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
12References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 22, 1993
Grant dateOct 7, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 22, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06K15/028
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A printhead having multiple print lines of conventional design and a printhead control system for using the multiple print lines in a variety of operations. In one embodiment, the printhead control system prints an image by superimposing the printing from multiple print lines. In another embodiment, the image is printed by alternating the energization of one print line so that each print line is used to print only 1/3 of the image lines. As a result, the print lines are allowed a relatively long time to cool, thus allowing the printhead to be operated at a faster speed. In another embodiment, the printing elements of each print line print with a different image density, and images printed by superimposing the printing elements in the print lines with a variety of combinations depending upon the desired magnitude of the image density. In still another embodiment of the printhead control system, the resistance of each printing element is checked and, if found to be unacceptably high, corresponding printing elements of other print lines are used for printing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.