Dot sensing, color sensing and media sensing by a printer for quality control
US6517180B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/2135
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A print monitoring approach is provided in which sequences of irregular two-dimensional frames of image information are captured at a resolution sufficiently high to enable details of individual droplets to be identified. The approach may be used to monitor individual droplets deposited on a medium, such as a sheet of paper, by an inkjet printhead. An optical detector having an irregular two-dimensional array of closely spaced sensor elements is mounted for movement with the inkjet printhead or other print assembly. A processor is responsive to the image frames from the optical detector to adjust print quality parameters when the physical characteristics of the imaged droplets are detected as being outside of a preselected range of acceptability. The physical characteristics that are resolved may include gyrational information or different droplet position information. Optical dot gain can also be measured.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.