Ink jet printer with controlled time-delay between application of different types of liquid inks

Ink jet printer apparatus of the type wherein a carriage traverses along a traverse axis to sequentially apply at least three types of ink to a same or an adjoining location of a print medium during a single traverse across a print medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a carriage having at least three pen compartments sequentially arranged along a traverse axis, including a first compartment and a third compartment separated by a second compartment;
• and
• at least three pens, including a first pen in said first compartment, a second pen in said second compartment, and a third pen in said third compartment;
• wherein
• the first and third pens are separated by a first predetermined center-to-center spacing,
• the second pen is separated from the first and third pens by at least a second center-to-center spacing substantially less than the first predetermined center-to-center spacing,
• the first and third pens contain respective types of ink that require an associated first time delay between application of the two types of ink to adjoining locations of the print medium in order to provide a well-defined border between the two types free from excessive Bleed or Halo,
• a second time delay substantially less than said first time delay is required between applications of the second type of ink and either the first or third type;
• and
• the carriage traverses across the print medium with a traverse speed that is substantially equal to the lessor of the first center-to-center spacing divided by the first time delay and the second center-to-center spacing divided by the second time delay.

Ink jet printer apparatus of the type wherein a carriage traverses along a traverse axis to sequentially apply at least four types of inks to a same or adjoining locations of a print medium during a single traverse across a print medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a carriage having a first pen compartment, a second pen compartment, a third pen compartment, and a fourth pen compartment sequentially arranged along a traverse access, with a predetermined center-to-center spacing between two adjacent said pen compartments, and
• at least four pens, including a first pen with a first ink including a negatively charged polyelectrolyte in said first compartment, a second pen with a second ink including a positively charged polyelectrolyte in said second compartment, a third pen with a third ink including a negatively charged polyelectrolyte in said third compartment, and a fourth pen with a fourth ink including a positively charged polyelectrolyte in said fourth compartment;
• wherein
• the first and third pens require at least a first predetermined time delay between application of the two types of ink with the negatively charged polyelectrolyte to adjoining locations of the print medium in order to provide a well-defined border between the two types free from excessive Bleed or Halo;
• the first and third pens are separated by a center-to-center spacing equal to at least two times said predetermined center-to-center spacing;
• the second and fourth pens also require at least said first predetermined first time delay between application of the two types of ink with the positively charged polyelectrolyte to adjoining locations of the print medium in order to provide a well-defined border between the two types free from excessive Bleed or Halo;
• the second and fourth pens are separated by a center-to-center spacing equal to at least two times said predetermined center-to-center spacing;
• a second time delay less than said first time delay is required between applications of one of the inks with the negatively changed polyelectrolyte and one of the inks with the positively charged polyelectrolyte;
• and
• the carriage traverses across the print medium with a traverse speed that is substantially equal to the lessor of (a) two times said predetermined center-to-center spacing divided by the first time delay and (b) said predetermined center-to-center spacing divided by the second time delay.

Ink jet printer apparatus of the type wherein a carriage traverses along a traverse axis to sequentially apply at least four types of inks to a same or adjoining locations of a print medium during a single traverse across a print medium, said apparatus comprising:

• a carriage having a first pen compartment, a second pen compartment, a third pen compartment, and a fourth pen compartment sequentially arranged along a traverse access, with a predetermined center-to-center spacing between two adjacent said pen compartments, and
• at least four pens, including a first pen with a colored ink including a first type of charged polyelectrolyte in said first compartment, second and third pens with respective second and third colored inks each including a second type of charged polyelectrolyte in said second and third compartments, and a third pen with a black ink including the first type of charged polyelectrolyte in said fourth compartment,
• wherein
• the first and fourth pens require at least a first time delay between application of the two types of ink with the first type of charged polyelectrolyte to adjoining locations of the print medium in order to provide a well-defined border between the two types free from excessive Bleed or Halo;
• the first and fourth pens are separated by a center-to-center spacing equal to at least three times said predetermined center-to-cent spacing;
• the second and third pens require only a second time delay substantially less than said first predetermined time delay between application of the two types of ink with the second type of charged polyelectrolyte to adjoining locations of the print medium in order to provide a well-defined border between the two types free from excessive Bleed or Halo;
• and
• the carriage traverses across the print medium with a traverse speed that is substantially equal to the lessor of (a) three times said predetermined center-to-center spacing divided by the first time delay and (b) said predetermined center-to-center spacing divided by the second time delay.