Redundant full width array thermal ink jet printing for improved reliability
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorRobert S. Karz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal ink jet printer having redundant printing capability includes a primary printhead for printing ink drops of a first color and a secondary printhead for printing ink drops of the first color and/or other colors. The secondary printhead selectively prints according to either a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the secondary printhead supplements the primary printhead such that both printheads print ink drops of the first color. In the second mode, if the primary printhead fails, the secondary printhead prints ink drops of the first color in place of the primary printhead.
Claims18
A thermal ink jet printer operates in a first mode or a second mode comprising:
- primary printing means for printing ink drops of a first color;
- and
- secondary printing means for printing ink drops of at least said first color, said secondary printing means selectively printing according to said first mode or said second mode, wherein said secondary printing means in said first mode operates simultaneously with said primary printing means to supplement said primary printing means, and wherein if said primary printing means fails, said secondary printing means in said second mode prints ink drops of said first color in place of said primary printing means.
A thermal ink jet printer comprising:
- a plurality of primary full width printheads, each of said primary full width printheads being separately connected to an ink supply of a different color;
- a secondary full width printhead positioned adjacent said primary full width printhead that prints in a first mode or a second mode, wherein said secondary full width printhead in said first mode operates simultaneously with said primary full width printheads to supplement printing of said primary full width printheads;
- and
- means for detecting printhead failure of one of said primary full width printheads, wherein if said means for detecting printhead failure senses a failed primary full width printhead, said secondary full width printhead operates in said second mode by printing in place of said failed primary full width printhead.
A method of operating a thermal ink jet printer having a primary printing means for printing a first color and a secondary printing means for selectively printing according to one of a first mode or a second mode, the method comprising the steps of:
- printing according to the first mode in which said secondary printing means operates simultaneously with said primary printing means to supplement said primary printing means;
- and
- printing according to the second mode with said secondary printing means if said primary printing means fails, wherein said secondary printing means in the second mode prints in said first color.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.