Inkjet printer checking nozzle and providing abnormal nozzle information and method thereof

A method of providing abnormal nozzle information in an inkjet printer, comprising:

• driving a plurality of nozzle driving units provided for allowing ink to be ejected through a plurality of nozzles of a printing head;
• detecting comparison results of comparing a voltage drop level of a driving power supply occurring during driving of respective nozzle driving units with a reference voltage;
• determining a failure regarding each of the nozzle driving units according to the comparison results;
• and
• displaying an identifier representing a corresponding one of the nozzle driving units whose failure is determined as a result of the determination of the failure.

An inkjet printer comprising:

• a printing head having a plurality of nozzles and a plurality of nozzle driving units corresponding to the nozzles through which ink is ejected, and receiving a first driving supply from an external power source during a normal operation;
• a plurality of nozzle failure detecting units supplying a second driving power supply to the nozzle driving units during a checking operation, detecting a voltage drop level of the second driving power supply during driving of the nozzle driving units, and outputting a failure checking signal regarding each of the nozzle driving units in response to the voltage drop level of the driving power supply;
• an inputting unit receiving a failure checking command regarding each of the nozzle driving units to perform the checking operation;
• a display displaying a failure checking result regarding the nozzle driving units;
• and
• a control unit cutting off the first driving power supply, upon receipt of the failure checking command, driving in sequence the nozzle driving units with the second power supply, and displaying on the display an identifier representing a corresponding one of the nozzle driving units whose failure is detected.

A method of providing abnormal nozzle information in an inkjet printer, comprising:

• driving in sequence a plurality of nozzle driving units provided for causing ink to be ejected through a plurality of nozzles of a printing head, and upon receipt of a nozzle checking command, checking whether each nozzle of the printing head is normal;
• detecting comparison results of comparing a voltage drop level of a driving power supply due to sequential driving of respective nozzle driving units with a reference voltage;
• determining a failure regarding one of the driven nozzle driving units according to the comparison results;
• and
• displaying an identifier corresponding to the nozzle driving unit whose failure is determined as a result of the determination of the failure.

A printing head driving apparatus of a printer, comprising:

• a power supply unit generating a driving power supply;
• a nozzle;
• a nozzle driving unit driving the nozzle in response to the driving power supply;
• and
• a nozzle failure detecting unit detecting a voltage drop level of the driving power supply during driving the nozzle driving unit, and outputting a failure signal indicating that the nozzle driving unit is not normal in response to the detected voltage drop level.