Printhead controllers
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsAntonio Gracia Verdugo, Carlota Galindo Quintas, Andrei Alexandru Dafinoiu
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Abstract
There is disclosed a printhead control method, printhead controller and printer. The method may comprise determining whether ink drop variability is likely to occur based on a first time period in which a printhead is uncovered during a print action but before printing begins, and a second time period that is a minimum period for ink drop variability to occur when the printhead is uncovered. The method may further comprise setting a printhead firing frequency for the print action based on the determination.
Claims15
A printhead control method comprising:
- determining whether ink drop variability is likely to occur based on a first time period, T1, in which a printhead is uncovered during a print action before printing begins, and a second time period, T2, that is a minimum period for ink drop variability to occur when the printhead is uncovered;
- and
- setting a printhead firing frequency for the print action based on the determination.
A printhead controller comprising:
- an ink drop variability predictor to predict a likelihood of ink drop variability based on a first time period, T1, in which a printhead is uncovered during a print action before printing begins, and a second time period, T2, that is a minimum period for ink drop variability to occur when the printhead is uncovered;
- and
- a firing frequency controller to control a printhead firing frequency for the print action based on the prediction.
A printer comprising:
- a printhead having a symmetric carriage configuration including first and second printhead sets for printing in a forward and reverse direction on a print medium;
- a primary spittoon positioned on a first side of a print medium transport path;
- a secondary spittoon positioned on a second side of the print medium transport path, opposite the first side;
- a printhead controller comprising:
- an ink drop variability predictor to predict a likelihood of ink drop variability based on a first time period, T1, in which a printhead is uncovered during a print action before printing begins in either the first or second printhead set, and a second time period, T2, that is a minimum period for ink drop variability to occur when the printhead is uncovered;
- and
- a printhead spitting controller to control printhead spitting based on the prediction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.