Method of inkjet printing and maintaining nozzle hydration

US9434156B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Memjet Technology Limited · IE

Inventors

• Angus John North · Sydney, AU
• Philip Palma · Chatswood, AU
• Brian Robert Brown · Chatswood, AU
• Duncan McRae · Chatswood, AU
• Jognandan Prashar · Chatswood, AU
• Mile Jurevic · Chatswood, AU
• Sam Mallinson · Chatswood, AU
• Geordie McBain · Chatswood, AU
• Chia-An Lin · Chatswood, AU
• Sam Myers · Chatswood, AU
• Jeff Tsang · Chatswood, AU
• Benjamin Powell · Chatswood, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 21, 2014
• Grant date: Sep 6, 2016
• Expiry date: Nov 21, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41J2202/20
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method of printing from a fixed inkjet printhead having a plurality of ink planes. The method includes the steps of: feeding a print medium past the printhead in a media feed direction, the media feed direction defining relative upstream and downstream sides of the printhead; printing an image onto the print medium, the image being defined by image data; and printing a keep-wet pattern onto the print medium from each ink plane of the printhead, the keep-wet pattern being defined by a plurality of dots printed at a frequency sufficient to maintain hydration of each nozzle in the printhead. A first keep-wet pattern from a first ink plane is printed at a higher frequency than a second keep-wet pattern from a second ink plane, the first ink plane being furthest upstream in the printhead.