Trough Support Ribs and Method of Use
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsMichael Marra, Randall Mayo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved method of edge-to-edge printing on media in a printer having a printhead disposed above an ink trough, the ink trough has a plurality of sections formed by a plurality of trough support ribs within the ink trough, comprises indexing a leading edge of media to a first position over a first trough section, selectively operating printhead jets which are positioned above the media to inhibit ink contamination of exposed support ribs, indexing the media leading edge to one of a second position within the first trough section or a position within a second trough section.
Claims20
A method for improved edge-to-edge printing on media in a printer having a printhead disposed above an ink trough, said ink trough having a plurality of sections formed by a plurality of trough support ribs within said in trough comprising:
- indexing a leading edge of media to a first position over a first trough section;
- selectively operating printhead jets which are positioned above said media to inhibit ink contamination of exposed support ribs;
- indexing said media leading edge to one of a second position within said first trough section or a position within a second trough section;
- and
- selectively operating printhead jets corresponding to said one of said second position within said first trough section or said position within said second trough section.
A method for improving edge-to-edge printing media in a printer having a printhead disposed above an ink trough, said ink trough having a plurality subtroughs formed by a plurality of support ribs within said ink trough, comprising:
- indexing a media leading edge to a first nominally aligned position;
- performing a printhead pass;
- selectively operating ink nozzles corresponding to a first subtrough and upstream thereof;
- indexing said leading edge to one of at least one additional subtrough;
- performing a printhead pass;
- selectively operating said ink nozzles corresponding to said at least one additional subtrough and upstream thereof to form an image along at least said media edge;
- signaling a print controller when a trailing edge of said media is detected;
- determining whether an adjustment move is needed to position the trailing edge in a nominally aligned position;
- making one or more adjustment moves to nominally align said trailing edge in a first subtrough;
- and
- indexing said trailing edge to one of a second position in said first subtrough or at least one additional subtrough.
The method of claim 11 wherein said plurality of subtroughs comprises four subtroughs.
A method for improving edge-to-edge printing of media in a printer including a printhead transversely movable over an ink trough having a plurality of subtroughs therein comprising:
- indexing media leading edge to a first position at each of said plurality of subtroughs;
- forming an image along a leading edge of said media at each of said plurality of subtroughs;
- indexing said media leading edge to at least a second position within each of said plurality of subtroughs;
- forming an image along said leading edge of said media at each of said at least second position;
- indexing a trailing edge to a first position at each of said plurality of subtroughs;
- forming an image along said trailing edge of said media at each of said plurality of subtroughs;
- indexing said media trailing edge to at least a second position within each of said plurality of subtroughs;
- forming an image along said trailing edge of said media at each of said at least second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.