Ink jet printer having interlaced print scheme

A method of printing on an intermittently moving print web using an ink jet printer which provides a plurality of parallel jet streams of drops, each stream selectively directable to the web to service a print line of a predetermined width, comprising the steps of:

• (a) directing n ink jets to said print web such that said jets strike said web defining n print lines of width q uniformly spaced apart by a distance equal to k times q, where k is an integer having no common factor with n greater than 1,
• (b) moving said print head across said web such that n print lines are serviced, and
• (c) moving said print web a distance equal to n times q after n print lines are serviced, and
• (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) a sufficient number of times such that a plurality of print lines across said web are printed.

An ink jet printer for depositing ink drops upon an intermittently moving print web, comprising:

• print head means for selectively directing a plurality of ink jets at said print web, said plurality of jet consisting of n jets positioned in a row and spaced apart by a distance equal to k times the width q of a print line defined by a single jet, n having no common factor with k except for unity,
• means for moving said print head adjacent said web in a direction parallel to the surface of said web and perpendicular to the direction of web movement, said print head being oriented such that its motion is perpendicular to said row of jets, and
• means for intermittently moving said print web a distance equal to n times q such that said movement of said print head across said web occurs during periods in which said print web is not moving,
• whereby print lines serviced on said web by said jets during movement of said print head across said web interlace with previously and subsequently printed lines.

An ink jet printer for printing along at least some of a plurality of parallel adjacent print lines extending across a print medium, comprising:

• a print medium,
• print head means defining n print positions, each of said n print positions being spaced from an adjacent print position in a first direction by a distance equal to k times the width of a print line, the integer k having no common factor with the integer n greater than one,
• means for periodically moving said print medium with respect to said print head means in said first direction by a distance equal to n times the width of a print line,
• means for periodically moving said print head means across said print medium in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, such that each print position on said print head means moves along an associated print line on said print medium,
• a plurality of ink jet means on said print head means for generating parallel jet streams of ink drops at at least some of said n print positions, and
• means for selectively directing drops in said jet streams toward said print medium such that each jet will selectively print upon a print line associated with the print position to which it corresponds.