Method for free spraying of the nozzles of an inkjet print head

US7431419B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Francotyp-Postalia GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Olaf Turner · Berlin, DE
• Uwe Hübler · Oderberg, DE
• Axel Kieser · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 2007
• Grant date: Oct 7, 2008
• Expiry date: Apr 23, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00556
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In a method for free spraying of the nozzles of an inkjet print head, in particular in a franking and/or addressing machine, in which the print media are directed past a stationary inkjet, at least the nozzles that are not participating in the generation of the current information-conveying print image are freely sprayed onto the current print medium in a mode that is irrelevant for the print image evaluation, while retaining the print position for the inkjet print head. The image-irrelevant mode can be free spraying in a region that is irrelevant for the print image evaluation or in a print pattern that cannot be evaluated. The size and/or number of the dots per pixel is thereby significantly smaller than for an evaluatable pixel. It is thereby ensured that each nozzle is activated at least once during the print image generation. Time is saved and the letter travel is optimized by the retention of the print position.